One False Move

R

Released May 8, 1992

1h 47m

Crime

Drama

List

93%

57 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Following a series of drug deals and murders, three criminals -- Fantasia (Cynda Williams), Ray Malcolm (Billy Bob Thornton) and Pluto (Michael Beach) -- travel from Los Angeles to Houston, finally arriving in a small Arkansas town to go into hiding. Two detectives from the LAPD, who are already on the case, contact the town's sheriff, Dale Dixon (Bill Paxton), to alert him of the fugitives' presence in the area. Underestimating Dixon, the criminals have no idea what they are about to face.

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Critics Consensus

One False Move makes nary a misstep as it unfurls a seedy caper with hard-hitting action and sly humor, marking an arresting debut for director Carl Franklin.

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S R

A seedy caper to be sure. It has some good bits, but takes it a bit over the top with the boys. The local vs out of town cops adds a bit to this, but I don't consider it a typical noir. I liked the Arkansas star city stuff. Saw on TCM.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/24

Full Review

Steve K

I thoroughly enjoy early Billy Bob Thornton movies. When he takes a character he is all in. It is 2024, and this is the 1st time I ever heard of, let alone watched. Nice seeing Bill Paxton again, another great actor gone too soon.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/24

Full Review

dlma1 M

Last night, I watched the Criterion 4k Blu-ray edition of "One False Move" (1992), an indie crime drama starring Billy Bob Thorton, Cynda Williams, and Michael Beach. Right from the beginning, these 3 commit horribly brutal murders in LA that shocked even the most jaded of viewers. Michael Beach, as the super intelligent but sadistic character "Pluto" will scare the hell out of you. In fact, in a discussion between director Carl Franklin and Billy Bob Thorton (who also co-wrote the screenplay), they noted that Beach had trouble finding non-criminal roles for a while because he was so effectively scary as a murderer! After the murders, the story will eventually shift to a small town in Arkansas, where the late, great Bil Paxton will take center stage as a small-town police chief. There will be some moments of humor and pathos in this part of the movie. I can't say more without ruining the plot. All I can say, is that this movie is very well done by all, and if you haven't seen it before, please watch it! If you have seen it before, it is still worth watching again. Finally, as I indicated, the violence may be too much for some viewers, so as they say, "viewer discretion is advised". 8/10. For collectors like me, I loved the movie so much I bought it on 4k Blu-ray.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/09/23

Full Review

Stoner J

Though I wish there was a more complete ending to the story, this is an awesome and super violent crime flick!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/11/23

Full Review

Taylor L

The big-time debut for Billy Bob Thornton (and frequent collaborator Tom Epperson), who has quietly garnered as much acclaim for his writing as he has for his character acting, and for director Carl Franklin, One False Move is notable in part for its brutal violence but even more so for its character-driven story. Two groups are introduced from the beginning to inevitably clash - a trio of criminals on their way to Houston to sell stolen cocaine after a bloody rampage, and an unlikely team of LA cops plus the local law lying in wait at one of their likely stops. However, as the film plays out, breadcrumbs gradually filter through that begin to change how that final confrontation will play out, as you learn more not only about the characters' backstories but their respective personalities. Current needs, base desires, and past connections all play against one another in a way that ensures the frequent violence isn't just a thick coat of paint hiding script problems; Paxton's character in particular gets quite a few facets to his story with a role that is constantly rotating to show a different side to the audience. For Thornton, definitely among his biggest accomplishments in the writing room. This film really brought to mind the Sam Raimi amateur crime drama, A Simple Plan - both feature small-town crime in the context of family and duelling loyalties, both are critically well-regarded, and both star Bob Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton. However, One False Move feels much smarter in how it uses character dynamics, and features a much more nuanced screenplay. (3.5/5)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Overall, packed with many characters who differ from one another, One False Move is a dark thriller that is quite violent, suspenseful, and even sometimes a little unsettling. Performances are great, with Bill Paxton delivering a confident performance and creating a witty and energetic character. The film's villains, including Billy Bob Thornton, are creepy and highly disturbing. The film builds tension right from the start delivering a surprising showdown that left me on a high. There are twists and turns, which was a nice surprise. By the end of this film, I just wanted to see more as the credits rolled, which is always a positive feeling.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/11/23

Full Review

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Carl Franklin

Director

Bill Paxton

Chief Dale 'Hurricane' Dixon

Cynda Williams

Lila 'Fantasia' Walker

Billy Bob Thornton

Ray Malcolm

Michael Beach

Wade 'Pluto' Franklin

Jim Metzler

Lt. Dudley 'Dud' Cole

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Adam Mars-Jones

Independent (UK)

Franklin seizes the opportunity to make a film that tightly binds up any political concerns it may have into the plot.

Nov 16, 2017

Full Review

Glenn Heath Jr.

Slant Magazine

Clark Franklin's One False Move brings a shotgun to a knife fight, and the results aren't pretty.

May 6, 2017

Full Review

Michael Upchurch

Seattle Times

Franklin's convincing portrait of life on both sides of the color line isn't quite like anything I've come across before, making One False Move one very assured directorial move. We need more filmmakers like him.

Rated: 3.5/4

May 6, 2013

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

It's a film about storytelling, characters, and mood, and in its way, it goes on to say more about the tragedies and inequalities of life than an issue-driven film could.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 5, 2023

Full Review

Armond White

National Review

One False Move is inconsequential crime-movie trash.

Aug 4, 2023

Full Review

Rudie Obias

Battleship Pretension

If you’re a fan of neo-noir crime genre films or hard-boiled detective thrillers, then One False Move is a must.

Jul 24, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

Following a series of drug deals and murders, three criminals -- Fantasia (Cynda Williams), Ray Malcolm (Billy Bob Thornton) and Pluto (Michael Beach) -- travel from Los Angeles to Houston, finally arriving in a small Arkansas town to go into hiding. Two detectives from the LAPD, who are already on the case, contact the town's sheriff, Dale Dixon (Bill Paxton), to alert him of the fugitives' presence in the area. Underestimating Dixon, the criminals have no idea what they are about to face.

Director: Carl Franklin
Producer: Paul Colichman, Miles Copeland, Harold Welb
Screenwriter: Billy Bob Thornton, Tom Epperson
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, IRS Media
Production Co: IRS Media
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 8, 1992, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 27, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $44.5K
Runtime: 1h 47m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround, Stereo

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