Remember Red Rock West, the Jon Dahl film from the early 90s? It stars Nicolas Cage as Michael, Dennis Hopper as Lyle from Dallas, J.T. Walsh as Wayne and Lara Flynn Boyle as the lovely evil Suzanne.
Out of work Michael drives from Texas to Wyoming with the promise of a roughneck job that doesn’t pan out. He rolls into the town of Red Rock and on a tip, goes into the bar, looking for work. The bartender, Wayne, who also happens to be the sheriff, sees his Texas plates and believes Michael to be Lyle from Dallas, the hitman Wayne has hired to murder his wife Suzanne.
I’ve heard this film referred to as desert noir, and I suppose that’s a good description. I really like this movie a lot, and I’ve seen it a few times over the years. The performances are great. The pacing is excellent and the plot is wonderfully twisted. Red Rock West must have come and gone with little fanfare, as most people I know have never heard of it. I believe I watched it after the fact at the urging of my friend Candy, who suggested I watch all of Jon Dahl’s films. If you haven’t seen this one, it’s an excellent renter, highly recommended.
27th Street 
I was thinking about this movie last week when we were driving past the red rock formations. Dahl is pretty interesting and hasnt done a lot of movies lately. Red Rock West was quite popular when it came out for those audiences watching for alternative and art house movies. His movie with Ben Kingsley and Tea Leone was really a lot of fun about the hit man romance. He’s been working on some of my favourite tv shows on pay tv like hbo and showcase. He’s directed episodes of True Blood, Dexter, Battlestar Gallactica and Breaking Bad.
I was impressed at how well Red Rock West held up. I’ll have to see some of his others again as well.
I’ve never heard of this film, but if it’s got the always fascinating Dennis Hopper, I really should.
Also, if you haven’t seen The Last Seduction, also directed by Jon Dahl, it too is top rate.