There are two things about this movie that make it a must-watch: Jack Nicholson in one of his best performances, and the issue of immigration.
Nicholson is a border guard who tries to resist the money available but his crazy wife (Valerie Perrine) just spends, spends, and spends like he was a Rockefeller. He finally joins with his neighbor and partner (Harvey Keitel) and runs some Mexicans across the border.
Charlie (Nicholson) still has some morals and that causes problems for his partner. He is also taken with Maria (Elpidia Carrillo), and that causes problems for their Mexican contact, so he sets him up to control him.
However, he can't control Charlie, and now even the boss (Warren Oates) is mad at him.
Tony Richardson's film has a lot of elements of Sam Peckinpah. Exciting to the end.
Music by the great Ry Cooder.
Nicholson is a border guard who tries to resist the money available but his crazy wife (Valerie Perrine) just spends, spends, and spends like he was a Rockefeller. He finally joins with his neighbor and partner (Harvey Keitel) and runs some Mexicans across the border.
Charlie (Nicholson) still has some morals and that causes problems for his partner. He is also taken with Maria (Elpidia Carrillo), and that causes problems for their Mexican contact, so he sets him up to control him.
However, he can't control Charlie, and now even the boss (Warren Oates) is mad at him.
Tony Richardson's film has a lot of elements of Sam Peckinpah. Exciting to the end.
Music by the great Ry Cooder.