What a beautiful movie!

Fresh and Exciting

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

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".

Some of my favorite people in real life are the quirky ones. They're what make life interesting rather than one gigantic bore. That's the main reason I love this film and can watch it over and over without getting tired of it. It's a rare film that can do that to me.There are few characters, if any, of what most folks would call "normal" in this movie. Every character is quirky in one way or another. Even characters who only have a line or two then are never seen again are quirky in their own little way. That is taking a gamble by the director and sometimes fails, but it works to a tee here.Read the list for the well known actors names and some not so well known, but one thing is continuous throughout the film; they all had a ball making it. What a pity it has so few fans.

This movie was so much fun. I looked it up right away, once I recovered from feeling sad about a certain sad thing I won't give away-- and I'm so startled by the hostility in the comments. In fact this movie does contain a gang of hogs, some poor people who are happy and kind, and a prostitute, and these elements seem to trigger fear in many viewers that they are being conned by a derivative movie or if they are rural people, that someone is putting them down. Some movies aren't that kind of movie and anyway, they should try being black or Chinese if they want to experience rampant powerlessness of that kind. They don't know the half of it. Anyway, why are none of the "reviewers?" bothered by the presentation of this boy(the Kid) who's been abandoned and lived alone by the river all his life, I wonder? They don't say "Unfair to say that about rural life!" Or, "we don't treat kids that way in Arkansas!" Anyway, this movie is engrossing-- though nothing of the kind may have happened to you or me so what? I will never forget the huge hole where the factory was, and the way Bob Hoskins' keeps presenting himself as a ruthless conman but can't help himself if it would mean harming anyone else the tiniest bit. Isn't it always a bargain to see these good actors? Isn't it funny to hear about the Mile-High Pie? How can anyone say Swoosie Kurtz didn't look good in that Elvis pompadour wig which was taller than she was herself? I thought she was glamorous and I believe Beau Bridges did too, which was what made this movie great.

Startz finally released this turkey on American television tonight. This film is a waste of good talented actors. Bob Hoskins seems lost in the film as a fake monk. In fact, I could not believe that in one scene he was dancing what is called the Texas Dance in his monk robes in an Arkansas dance hall.The movie is a series of road vinettes that really don't make much sense. I wonder if these actors got paid for the roles. Antonio Banderos was listed as the producer. What got into him. Swoosie Kurtz a good actress was awful in her Presley hair do. No wonder this did not get a theater release.