By James Calemine
…At The Edge of Risk…On The Other Side of Reason…The Border…
I just re-watched Tony Richardson’s 1982 film The Border. The movie’s cast includes, Jack Nicholson, Harvey Keitel, Valerie Perrine, Elpidia Carrillo and Warren Oates. Deric Washburn and Walon Green wrote the emotive screenplay.
The Border tells the story of Charlie Smith (Nicholson), a border patrol agent along the Rio Grande. This film resonates thirty-some years later as ‘the border’ issue raises even more dark questions in our day and age…
Legendary musicians Ry Cooder, Jim Dickinson, John Hiatt, Freddy Fender, Sam The Sham and Dan Penn contribute to this brilliant soundtrack. Some of you, I’m sure, heard the Ry Cooder song “Across The Borderline” at one point.
Between Smith’s spendthrift wife (Perrine) and his corrupt partner (Keitel), Smith finds himself a conflicted player in a fatal game. When Smith decides to fly straight…the trouble intensifies. Nicholson’s heart-rending performance in The Border ranks as one of his most underrated. Ol’ Jack always delivers.
The cinematic quality of this film captures a majestic southwestern landscape. Highly recommended. Jim Dickinson discusses this film in our interview from Insured Beyond The Grave.