MovieChat Forums > One False Move (1992) Discussion > Logical flaw in creating tension

Logical flaw in creating tension

posted 14 years ago by gerfalcon7
8 replies | jump to latest

For the most part, I thought this was a superior movie but I couldn't quite buy the idea that just two cops and one local sheriff would be considered enough 'muscle' to deal with a group of suspects, two of whom are considered both dangerous and unpredictable. Would any real life law enforcement group be so careless? If anything, they'd be overly cautious, and have a team of well=armed men/women ready for these two psychos. Ruined the film for me that was otherwise well constructed.

[–] stagebandman 14 years ago

The FBI did not know if the suspects were in Star City or not. If they sent an army to every lead, they'd be broke in a week.

If we all liked the same movie, there'd only be one movie!

[–] dgates64 14 years ago

You're right. And that would've been easy to fix by adding a few lines of dialogue saying that the FBI is taking over the investigation and will be arriving next week. Of course by then, it would have been too late.

[–] gregmays 14 years ago

The dead people were all involved in drugs. With no hint of organized crime, the FBI isn't interested. Once it was conclusive they'd left the state, there'd be federal warrants, but that's about it.

Of course, a dead Highway Patrolman in Texas should have raised some eyebrows....

All that said, this is a film noir classic. Michael Beach and Billy Bob were at the top of their game.

I've never understood why Billy Bob and Tom Epperson didn't write more of this sort of thing. Well Epperson did. Apparently he wrote a novel last year in this vein that's being adapted to film with Ridley Scott at the helm.

I think Carl Franklin cashed in with 'Devil in a Blue Dress' largely based on this effort.

[–] dgates64 14 years ago

Agreed. Probably Thorton's best work. He's just so mean.

[–] gregmays 14 years ago

Well, he was mean in 'Bad Santa' too, in a very different and funny way. Another one of his cult classic roles.

I read an interview where he said it bothered him a little that he was going to be more famous as a character actor. He sees his true talent as a writer. I think he's even distantly related to William Faulkner.
But, he said the fact is he gets many, many scripts every week to consider as an actor. So, reluctantly he accepts his legacy will be as an actor.

[–] dgates64 14 years ago

He could've easily chewed the scenery in 'One False Move'. He didn't, and that's what made it realistic.

He was VERY low key in 'The Man Who Wasn't There'. But I still felt he was genuine.

[–] gregmays 14 years ago

'The Man Who Wasn't There'
Very good. And it makes the case that Billy Bob can play any type of character. And that came on the heels of 'Monster's Ball'.

With the Coens, you never know what's in store when you start one of their movies. It seems like when they make something big, funny and popular, they come back with something much darker out of left field. TMWWT was the thematic retort to 'O Brother Where Art Thou'

[–] ze_goose 11 years ago

**Spoilers**

Agreed. Also, the fact that they asked the 5 year old kid to give directions was pretty stupid lol..