"A Night In Old Mexico" with Robert Duval

[Wyatt Burp]

POTENCIAL SPOILER ALERT: We just saw this movie. Duval is basically an older version of his character in Open Range transported to modern Texas where he is losing his ranch. The grandson he didn't know he had shows up, a NY college student, and they go for a fling in Mexico. They are in a busy city during Day Of The Dead celebration. The are mixed up in a drug deal and stalked by a Mexican hit man. They meet a Mexican singer/stripper who parties with them. Duval is just fine in this. The grand son is a bland actor like any on generic TV dramas about young people. Plot twists involving him are totally unbelievable. The girl IS believable and vibrant. Her relationship with Duval is improbable yet believable. Duval's interaction with the hit man is the best part of the movie. The hit man is not pure bad and is acted great by whoever the actor was.
The characters are in a crowded city but everyone conveniently runs into the very people they are looking for with total ease which was ridiculous. My review, a charitable two trigger fingers up. That kid's character distracted from and dragged down the movie, in my opinion. Duval fans will be pleased with him as was I.

 

[gregintenn]

I liked that movie.

Being bad weather here, I just watched Lonesome Dove again.

Second Hand Lions is among my favorites.

Anything Duval is in is worth watching. He's aging, and will surely be hard to replace.

 

[Protected One]

I liked that movie.

Second Hand Lions is among my favorites.

Anything Duval is in is worth watching. He's aging, and will surely be hard to replace.

Hope you saw him in "The Killer Elite", with James Caan.

 

[gregintenn]

Hope you saw him in "The Killer Elite"

I did not. I'll try to find that one. Thanks.

 

[just jim]

Hollywood has pretty much done away with good character actors and replaced them with pretty boys, glitz and glamor. Computer graphics for eye candy and lots of noise. Actors like Gary Cooper,Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart and many more could never make it in Hollywood today as they are not pretty enough. Charlton Heston is rolling in his grave.

 

[just jim]

Duvall played a cab driver in Bullet and the bad guy in Joe Kidd.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Hollywood has pretty much done away with good character actors and replaced them with pretty boys, glitz and glamor. Computer graphics for eye candy and lots of noise. Actors like Gary Cooper,Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart and many more could never make it in Hollywood today as they are not pretty enough. Charlton Heston is rolling in his grave.

I put "Bullitt" on once some years back so my son could see the great car chase. He didn't seem to appreciate it. Then we watched a new Angelina jolie movie on his lap top where sh'es flying through the air in her car shooting bad guys with ease through the sun roof, land on four wheels and driving on. All done with computers. How could the real thing compete with that.
There are two great character actors nowadays who I like in everything they do. Paul Giamatti and William H. Macy. They both have drifted into leading roles, too.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Duval played a bunch of bad guys before he got a lead role.
Like he got sideways with The Duke in True Grit.

 

[the ringo kid]

I put "Bullitt" on once some years back so my son could see the great car chase. He didn't seem to appreciate it. Then we watched a new Angelina jolie movie on his lap top where sh'es flying through the air in her car shooting bad guys with ease through the sun roof, land on four wheels and driving on. All done with computers. How could the real thing compete with that.
There are two great character actors nowadays who I like in everything they do. Paul Giamatti and William H. Macy. They both have drifted into leading roles, too.

Jolie--though pretty--cant compare to the dirt under one fingernail--of the King of Cool..........

 

[walkin jack]

I'm always on the look out for good books and movies and I REALLY do appreciate your review. I'm a long time Duval fan and will look forward to this movie. Thanks!!

 

[the ringo kid]

I'm always on the look out for good books and movies and I REALLY do appreciate your review. I'm a long time Duval fan and will look forward to this movie. Thanks!!

Jack, do you buy DvDs? If so? I can suggest many great Made on Demand titles you will not see anywhere fo sale online--or in person--cept from Warner Bros--who also sell fro most of the major studios too.

 

[walkin jack]

We have squillions of DVDs and VHS tapes. We have gotten to t he point where we just rent 'em now a daze.

 

[galena]

I have always liked Duval and will check out this movie. Also, if you haven't seen it check him out in "The Great Santini" that is one of my favorite movies.

 

[just jim]

I put "Bullitt" on once some years back so my son could see the great car chase. He didn't seem to appreciate it. Then we watched a new Angelina jolie movie on his lap top where sh'es flying through the air in her car shooting bad guys with ease through the sun roof, land on four wheels and driving on. All done with computers. How could the real thing compete with that.
There are two great character actors nowadays who I like in everything they do. Paul Giamatti and William H. Macy. They both have drifted into leading roles, too.

Movies are not just for young people, if they made good movie more older people would spend some money to see them. Some of old timers would love to get out and see a thinking man's movie that entertains them.

I think they lost understanding in Hollywood that it's the character actors that build the storyline. You get better acting on TV now than you do in the movies. Just my rant now because I really miss seeing a good movie

 

[JJEH]

I have always liked Duval

I've always liked Robert Duvall as well. He makes great movies and has just a face that suits so many characters.

Also, I do believe he's a stand up guy and a down to earth guy, if you read some of his quotes.

Robert Duvall Quotes - BrainyQuote

 

[Onomea]

Tender Mercies is a great Duvall flick from 1983.

 

[shouldazagged]

Another was "The Apostle".

I agree about Giamatti and Macy, but don't forget Stanley Tucci, David Strathairn, and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Steve Buscemi comes to mind, as does David Morse. There are others, and I can't agree that Hollywood has "done away with" character actors.

 

[madmikeb]

I just finished re-watching The Road this afternoon. Duval has a part in it, really good flick but I had forgotten just how depressing a movie it is!

 

[walkin jack]

Even a role with as little "meat" on it as the doctor in Phenomenon with John Travolta turns into a great performance by Duval. He put so much feeling in his affection for Travolta's character and his gentle nature was very well portrayed without being over done. He truly is a gifted actor with a wide range of abilities.

Anybody remember him as Major Frank Burns in the movie MASH or is role as a mentally ill soldier in Captain Newman, MD with Gregory Peck, Bobby Darin, and Angie Dickinson?

 

[NCTexan]

Tender Mercies is a great Duvall flick from 1983.

Tender Mercies is one of the best Duvall movies in my opinion. It's really a movie with a message as well.