Much to my surprise, I really enjoyed this movie. It was quirky, yes, very quirky, but that was part of its charm. You can't say that The White River Kid was reminiscent of any other movie at all. The script takes grand swipes at Roman Catholicism and rural values as well as throwing the dirt at rustics, crooked sheriffs, sleazy businessmen and aspiring wanna-bes. The acting is well-nigh perfect with Bob Hoskins as an engagingly crooked friar narrowly leading the way from crooked stumble-bum, Antonio Banderas, quick-on-the-trigger outlaw, Wes Bentley and keen-to-be-re-elected sheriff, Randy Travis. The males don't have all the best lines, though they do tend to dominate the action. But who will forget Ellen Barkin as the blind prostitute or Swoosie Kurtz as the bewigged Mummy Weed or young Kim Dickens who makes such a lithe and engaging heroine? The movie was beautifully photographed by Michael Chapman on some really arresting Arkansas (?) locations. Available on an excellent Columbia Tristar DVD under the title, "White River".
Review of The White River Kid
