Wild Bill

USA, 1995. Directed by Walter Hill. Jeff Bridges, Ellen Barkin, John Hurt, Diane Lane, David Arquette, Keith Carradine.

Downbeat biopic of the final days of Wild Bill Hickcock, made by the estimable Walter Hill. At the centre of the film Jeff Bridges turns in another thoughtful performance, offering us clues as to what the man was all about, without giving any answers. Unfortunately as a movie it drags its feet, possibly due to it being partly based on a play - there's a long, drawn-out, will-he-won't-he scenario with Bill's young assassin which feels like it goes on forever. I always think that films which start with the audience knowing the eventual outcome have to work harder to sustain their attention, and in this regard the movie fails. A shame, because it's a film of quality which might have fared better with a less introspective approach.