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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Lions Gate
Salesrank: 43862
Released: August 21, 2001 |
| Our Price: $2.61 |
| Used Price: $4.35 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 06/26/2007
Description of South of Heaven, West of Hell:
If you've never heard of South of Heaven, West of Hell, there's an excellent reason. If you have heard of it, it's probably because you stumbled upon the information that it marks the directorial debut of singer-actor Dwight Yoakam, who managed to sweet-talk a spectacularly quirky cast into abetting the enterprise: current girlfriend Bridget Fonda and her papa Peter; indie-world luminaries Vince Vaughn and Billy Bob Thornton (for whom Yoakam made a memorably loathsome villain in Sling Blade); character-acting stalwarts Bo Hopkins, Matt Clark, Luke Askew, and Scott Wilson; and such icons of the florid fringe as Bud Cort, Paul Reubens, and Michael Jeter. All should file for workman's comp and alienation of audience affection because they got themselves mired in one of the dumbest, most inept, most tediously self-indulgent messes in the history of showbiz hubris.
Yoakam stars (you guessed?) as a U.S. marshal whose tiny Arizona town is literally annihilated by a clan of outlaws from his past. He and they used to be family. Now he has to track them down, even as they go on making life hell on earth for anyone in their path. That includes a hapless government man (B. Cort) whom they're keeping alive for sport, and a traveling lady (B. Fonda) who ... well, who's blonde and is mostly photographed in slow motion because she's the director's girlfriend (see above). It is beyond the scope of mortal man to describe how primitive are Yoakam's notions of dramaturgy (mostly there is just shouting and hair), how any coherent grasp of time or geography eludes him, how little difference it makes whether these gargoyles start killing each other in any given scene. It's just awful. And while we're at it, offal. --Richard T. Jameson
South of Heaven, West of Hell Reviews:
Talk about a pounding! 
2009-09-18 - People really didn't like this movie I see. Luckily I watched it despite the criticism. I like to think of these actors as my type of guys. Dwight, Billy Bob, Vince and hell, even Buck Owens had a hand in it. I thought it can't be that bad if all these dudes are involved. It isn't. Actually, it's a pretty darn good western (I gave it 5 stars to off-set the negative but I rate it 4). It's set in the early 1900's so it's the end of the cowboy era. The thing with this movie is that it has a ton of black comedy that many persons won't get. If taken seriously, you're out to lunch. Personally, I don't care why people hate it, I found it different on so many small levels that overall it made for a unique, and good movie.
Not in the majority 
2009-01-21 - I guess I'm not part of the majority here as i think this is a great character driven film. Yes it's not tombstone or the wild bunch, but it's not meant to be. This film is supposed very intelectual & that is probably why most people just don't get it. Oh well.
what an awful movie-do not waste your time 
2008-06-09 - Has to be one of worst movies of all time. Dwight Yoakam is a worse actor than he is a singer. How he ever got the cast talked into this one is beyond me. How can any person rate this above a 1?? I realize that even sh-- looks good to some, and that is what this movie is.
south of heaven west of hell
2008-03-29 - I was very pleased with this dvd,Dwight Yoakam was awesome,as usual,this movie is a lot of Dwight. Dwight fans will want to purchase this one. Very good western.
"Spoiler" for you non-literary types
2007-10-04 - This is a sickeningly violent and deeply intellectual movie. (Probably a bad idea if one is looking for broad appeal.) Having read the previous 50 reviews, it's obvious that very few pick up on the meaning of this movie's title: "South of Heaven, West of Hell". Just where (or what) would this be? PURGATORY, of course, as portrayed by the American South West. EVERYBODY in the movie is ALREADY DEAD! None of the characters in the movie realize this (with the probable exception of Billy Bob Thornton's character), however, some seem to suspect this may be the case.
As others have noted, the cast is very impressive, the cinematography is awesome, great music, fine acting etc. I think Dwight Yoakam was successful in accomplishing what he set out to do. The movie is not a mess but is probably too smart and subtle for most folks. I like this movie a lot but I can't say I "enjoyed" it; the violence is just too brutal and sickening. However, the violence is not gratuitous, it is essential to the plot. The movie DOES have a plot but if you don't get the title the plot will elude you as well.
I agree with both those that gave it one star as well as those who gave it five; this movie is far too smart for the general movie audience but excellent for those with the ability to "get it". I highly recommend this movie to the very few who have strong minds and stomachs, most of the rest of you are probably better off skipping this one.
BTW, avoid the over edited VHS version. Get the DVD.
