Lone Star
First screened in September 1996 / Most recently screened in May 2016
Director: John Sayles. Cast: Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, Kris Kristofferson, Joe Morton, Clifton James, Jeff Monahan, Ron Canada, Miriam Colon, Eddie Robinson, Stephen Mendillo, LaTanya Richardson, Chandra Wilson, Matthew McConaughey, Tay Strathairn, Vanessa Martinez, Gilbert R. Cuellar Jr., Tony Amendola, James Borrego, Jesse Borrego, Leo Burmester, Gabriel Casseus, Gonzalo Castillo, Richard Coca, Carmen De Lavallade, Tony Frank, Stephen J. Lang, Carina Martinez, Frances McDormand, Azalea Mendez, Tony Plana, Richard Reyes, Randy Stripling, Lisa Saurez, Gordon Tootoosis, Beatrice Winde. Screenplay: John Sayles.

 Twitter Capsule: Bold take on borders and legends. Well shot despite televisual style. People and pasts are always too near and too far.

VOR: ④  Sayles, never the most fluent cineaste, still devises inspired ways, visual and narrative, to blur and concatenate pasts and presents. Distinctive, rich take on American community.


Photo © 1996 Columbia Pictures/Castle Rock Entertainment

Not yet reviewed in full. Grade: A–

(in September 1996: A; in September 2004: B+)
Academy Award Nominations:
Best Original Screenplay: John Sayles

Golden Globe Nominations:
Best Screenplay: John Sayles

Other Awards:
Independent Spirit Awards: Best Supporting Actress (Peña)
National Board of Review: Special Mention for Excellence in Filmmaking
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