SEARCHERS 2.0

US, 2007, 91 minutes, Colour.
Del Zamora, Jaclyn Jonet, Ed Pansullo, Sy Richardson.
Directed by Alex Cox.

Searchers 2.0 is a piece of cinema fun for film buffs.

Alex Cox has directed a number of strange films over several decades. His most accessible was Repo Man with Harry Dean Stanton and Emilio Estevez in 1984. He made Straight to Hell as well as Walker with Ed Harris. He is also done a lot of experimentation in his eccentric way.

However, Searchers is much more straightforward. Two older men who have been extras and stunt men in the movies decide to go to a screening in Monument Valley of a film in which they appeared as children. The director of the film was a sadistic tyrant and they plot to get revenge. They are dependant on one man's daughter to drive them to Monument Valley.

The two men talk incessantly about films, especially about Westerns. For film buffs, there is constant delight with all these references, audience's testing out their own memories and their own likes.

There is a parody of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly showdown at the end of the film as the two men confront the director - with a quiz about stunt men. There is a surprise ending - but it does not build up to a satisfying climax. The film just ends.

However, there is a great deal of Western scenery along the way, references especially to John Ford and John Wayne, respect for so many films, discussions about war films and their meaning. One of the two men has rather conservative political views but very up-to-date views on the environment. The other is from Mexico and the references are made to Mexicans in the United States.

The film will not be to everyone's liking, it may go over the heads of many audiences - but it is one of those films that would have been a great success at midnight shows in specialist cinemas in cities.

1. The work of Alex Cox over the decades? His English background? Sid and Nancy and his British films? His American films? His admiration for American genres? Using them, parodying, homage? Working with small budgets?

2. The title, the echoes of John Wayne and John Ford? The visit to Monument Valley? The contrast with Los Angeles, the poverty, the Mexican workers, wanting jobs? The road movie, the highways into Utah and Arizona?

3. Audience knowledge of the western genre? The war films? All the references? To films, to performers, to the stunt men? A film for film buffs? The references to actual films - and to fictional films? The discussions? The issues? War, American imperialism? Traditions and trends? The environment? The admiration for the stunt men? The extras?

4. Mel and his work, representing the Mexicans, the owners driving in, wanting the workers, the cheap rates? Mel and his life, separation from his wife, his daughter and his relationship with her? Persuading her to give the car? Going on the road with her?

5. Fred and his life, child star, extra, stunts? Watching his old film? Mel's arrival, their comparing stories, the discussions and the decision about the trip?

6. Leonard Maltin, the parody of his television shows, his appearing himself? Praise of the fictional film and director? Mel and Fred and their reaction, their memories, the decision to go, vengeance?

7. Fritz Frobisher, his character, reputation, their sense of mission to avenge themselves?

8. The car, the pressure on the daughter, her not knowing television or film, the arguments? Her background, moving out, losing her nursing job? The meals on the way, the discussions, the nights in the
motel, the breakdown? Her taking their photo at Monument Valley and tricking them, stranding them? Her reappearance, buying the T-shirt from Frobisher, refereeing the three-way quiz?

9. The journey, the sense of mission, the enthusiasm, the discussions, the memories? The movie references? The motel, the diners? The daughter tricking them? Waiting, walking through the desert, the
arrival and the wrong film? The setting up of the screen, the Mexicans watching?

10. The John Wayne hut, the shrine, the graffiti from Frobisher? Finding him, confronting him, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and the three-way quiz? Fred losing?

11. Frobisher and the flashback, the situation with the film, the children and their non-acting, Roger Corman as the producer, Frobisher and his whipping the children and their fear - and Fred and Mel forgiving him for the sake of the film?
12. The odd ending, Fred revealed as an agent, the issue of copyright, Frobisher and his selling illegal scripts, going to prison? Fred becoming a senator?

13. The weak acting, the B-budget - but the homage to the old films? And the entertainment of film buffs?