TWO MEN IN TOWN

US, 2014, 115 minutes, Colour.
Forrest Whitaker, Brenda Blethyn, Harvey Keitel, Ellen Burstyn.
Directed by Rachid Bouchareb.

To Men In Town is from Paris-born director, Rachid Buchareb. He has made some fine films, including two with SIGNIS and Ecumenical awards: Little Senegal and London River. However, this film is not as good, even though the director does create an interesting New Mexico environment.

The film is an American adaptation of the 1973 thriller, Two Men in The Town, based on the work of novelist and director, Jose Giovanni, who had himself experienced French prisons. The original starred Alain Delon, Jean Gabin, Michel Bouquet, with Gerard Depardieu in a supporting role.

It is difficult to pin down who the two men of the title are. One should be thea central character William Garnett, played with his usual Intensity by Forrest Whitaker. On the other hand, he interacts with two men in the town: the sheriff, played by Harvey Keitel, and the Mexican who trades on the illegal refugees, played by Luiz Guzman.

For most of the film, Whitaker wears a suit and tie, shedding them only when he goes to work with cattle on a farm. This means that he always looks dignified, reinforced by his conversion to Islam and his continual prayer after he is released from jail. He had difficulties as a youth, dealing in drugs and petty crime. But he has gone to jail for the murder of a deputy, something for which the sheriff cannot forgive him. In himself, a sometimes kindly man, the sheriff is angry that Barnett is free while his deputy is still dead, and he takes the opportunity to harass the ex-prisoner.
The part for Luis Guzman, or the way it is written, is very irritating. During the past, he worked closely with Garnett. Now, after 18 years, he wants to hire him again to control his operatives in Mexico. Garnett refuses because he wants to live a decent life, have a family – reinforced by his encounter at a bank with a teller, Teresa (Delores Heredia).

The other central character is the parole officer, an excellent people performance by Brenda Blethyn, both down-to-earth and sympathetic. She had worked with Bouchareb on London River.

The film is strong with the performances and with the re-creation of the New Mexico environment. However, the screenplay is all is not always credible in its charting the interactions of all the characters. Yet, given the director and the cast, the film was not without interest.


1. The director, his career, international, European? Perspective? On the United States? A remake of a French film?

2. The title: Garnett, the sheriff, Terence? The clashes?

3. The opening and the closing, a framework for Garnett’s story? The ending – open as regards characters, and the enforcement of the law?

4. Garnett, Forrest Whitaker and his presence, in prison, conversion to Islam, his prayer? Getting out, cuffs, the money earned in prison? Emily meeting him? Going to her office, the regulations, her warnings? Taking him to the apartment, rough, the other men – and the later clash with the man refusing to turn down the television, Garnett breaking it and then having to buy him a new one? Curfew? The need to look for a job? His interview with the imam and his advice?

5. Introduction to the sheriff, at the border, the vigilante group, the sheriff condemning them for working outside the law, the illegals, the need for water, his kindness?

6. The introduction to Emily, her age, moving, the isolated house, singing and polishing her gun, the phone calls to her father? Her job?

7. Going to Paul, getting the cases, the secretary and her wariness, the test case, Wayne, wanting to go to Ohio to die, Emily’s efforts, his later berating her? Her finding him dead in his house?

8. Garnett, going to the job, always wearing his suit and tie? The farm, the cows, herding them, milking, liking being to be in the open air, good at his job? Emily’s visit? The sheriff’s visit and insinuating to the manager that he fire Garnett?

9. The life of Garnett, in trouble in his youth, in prison, the drug dealing? His conversion, reading about sharia law? The sheriff harassing him at the meal? Opening the account at the bank, Teresa? The attraction, the date? The date, the dancing, the encounter with Terence? Teresa upset, the sheriff passing her house? the invitation to the cafe, Garnett telling the truth as Emily advised, offering himself, Teresa’s explanation of her life, and happiness, his agreeing? Moving in, Emily inspecting the house? Hopes? Teresa’s story, 10 years in the US, taking out the loan from the house, happiness?

10. The sheriff, anger after 18 years for Garnett to be released, the deputy still dead? The party for the Afghan hero? The clashes with Emily? Her threatening him?

11. Terence, the past, Terence wanting Garnett to go to Mexico and enforce his rules? His hounding Garnett, the car wash? Confronting Teresa, bashing her? Garnett and the truck wash?

12. Speeding, the arrest, the night in jail, the sheriff releasing him in the morning, Emily having to get him?

13. Garnett, going to see his mother, her reasons for not visiting him, and not returning the letters? His wanting affection from her?

14. The possibility for change, through hopes, prayer and conversion?

15. Garnett’s anger at seeing the treatment of Teresa, the bike, crashing into the car, killing Terence? And walking into what kind of future?