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The Hi-Lo Country

R Released Jan 22, 1999 1h 54m Western List
54% Tomatometer 35 Reviews 48% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Cowboy pals Pete Calder (Billy Crudup) and Big Boy Matson (Woody Harrelson) come back to the range after fighting in World War II. Pete hopes to return to the simplicity of cattle-herding, but wealthy local rancher Jim Ed Love (Sam Elliott) warns him that the ways of the Old West have vanished. Big Boy boozes, brawls, bets and wins the affections of the town's married temptress, Mona (Patricia Arquette). Down-to-earth Josepha (Penélope Cruz) yearns for Pete, but he wants what Big Boy has.
The Hi-Lo Country

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The actors fail to live up to the archetypes they portray.

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Critics Reviews

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Richard Schickel TIME Magazine Mammas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys. And while you're at it, don't let them grow up to make movies about cowboys either. Apr 1, 2019 Full Review Globe and Mail Rated: 2/4 Apr 25, 2003 Full Review Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle Rated: 3.5/5 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com For a film about grand passions, there is no fire to this film. Rated: 1.5/4 May 3, 2009 Full Review Jim Lane Sacramento News & Review Rated: 3/5 Aug 7, 2008 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Rated: 3/5 Apr 6, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D Paper thin in every respect. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member J'ai beaucoup aimé ce drame occidental on est souvent inquiets pour les personnages très bien interprétés par l'ensemble du castings on se doute de la fin dUn mais on est surpris quand ça arrive,les paysages sont magnifiques et les bagarres très réalistes Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Narrated by Billy Crudup one of those actors whose name you may remember seeing in a list of performers but most would find difficulty in identifying. I think it would be safe to say he has a love/hate relationship with Hollywood--it's where you go to make the movies but you don't want to get drawn in too tight. After all he refused the lead in Titanic to play a movie few have probably seen. Ironic that at 6 1 Cole Hauser who plays Little Boy towers over his brother Big Boy. This movie turns the classic love triangle into a quadrangle as our two principals share an interest in another man's wife. Pete lusts after the unattainable while ignoring the woman who has always truly loved him. Is the baby whose name is to be Pete the child of his seed? Just asking. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member I like this movie. It starts of slow but the acting from billy crudup and woody harelson are pitch perfect. Its tragic but well done. Only complaint the director could have found someone better than Patricia Arquette. She cute but bland. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member (** 1/2): [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon13.gif[/img] I liked the cast, but I became less interested with film as it went along. A near-miss. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member A miss from the usually stellar Frears. Slow moving and dull. The uninspired acting from everybody but Woody doesn't help. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Hi-Lo Country

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Movie Info

Synopsis Cowboy pals Pete Calder (Billy Crudup) and Big Boy Matson (Woody Harrelson) come back to the range after fighting in World War II. Pete hopes to return to the simplicity of cattle-herding, but wealthy local rancher Jim Ed Love (Sam Elliott) warns him that the ways of the Old West have vanished. Big Boy boozes, brawls, bets and wins the affections of the town's married temptress, Mona (Patricia Arquette). Down-to-earth Josepha (Penélope Cruz) yearns for Pete, but he wants what Big Boy has.
Director
Stephen Frears
Producer
Tim Bevan, Barbara De Fina, Eric Fellner, Martin Scorsese
Screenwriter
Max Evans, Walon Green
Distributor
Gramercy Pictures
Production Co
PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating
R
Genre
Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 22, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 8, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA)
$163.8K
Runtime
1h 54m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround