Plot: What’s it about?
Sheriff Ray Dolezal (Willem Dafoe) is the law in small town and doesn’t see too much excitement. But when he finds the corpse of a murdered man in his area, he finds himself in more danger than he could ever imagine. The corpse belongs to an F.B.I. agent and has some unusual articles nearby, which intrigues Dolezal. This case is going to be nearly impossible to solve with the evidence in hand, so Dolezal decides to use some unconventional means to find his answers…he becomes the victim. He assumes the name of the slain agent, packs up the suitcase loaded with $500,000 in cash, and travels off to get to the bottom of the issue. He soon finds himself involved in a large scale investigation which encompasses many people from many different backgrounds. Within this global operation he meets a shrewd and mysterious gun runner (Mickey Rourke) among several other colorful characters, all of whom have some stake or interest in this whole scheme. The deeper he pushes into this world of crime the more danger he faces, but Dolezal seems bound and determined to solve this case once and for all.
When I first saw this movie several years ago I was taken in by the storyline and impressed with the overall package the film had to offer. While I still think the storyline with all the twists and turns serves as the basis for the film’s appeal, it is also loaded with terrific performances by gifted actors. This one takes a good hard look at these characters, so it was vital for these actors to be talented and well casted, which they are to be sure. The individual performances are quite strong, but the best acting to be seen here is when the characters interact. You can have a good movie without chemistry for sure, but I am pleased this one has excellent interaction. I am sure some will find problems with the movie’s storyline because of plausibility, but it’s no more outrageous than most other movies of this nature. It had been a while since I’d last viewed this movie and I found it just as good this time around, though it isn’t the type of movie you’d want to watch all the time. This disc doesn’t have much in terms of supplements, but it does look and sound better than ever so I won’t complain much. I recommend this release as a rental to those in need of a solid suspense/thriller and if you like the flick the disc makes for a solid purchase.
This film was directed by Roger Donaldson, who creates an impressive and effective atmosphere for this unusual tale to be told within. The surroundings play an important role in this movie, as visuals add to the feel and sometimes even dictate the tone of the film. The desert sequences are very well executed and I doubt anyone will forget the morgue scenes after they’ve seen them. While the characters drive this film for the most part, without the visual compositions Donaldson uses they would have much less impact. If you want to see more of Donaldson’s films check out Species, No Way Out, Cocktail, Dante’s Peak, and The Getaway. This movie features a strong ensemble cast which is headed up by Willem Dafoe, who turns in a solid performance. Dafoe (The Last Temptation Of Christ, eXistenZ) carries the movie quite well and plays off the actors to perfection. The supporting cast for this movie includes Mickey Rourke (The Rainmaker), Maura Tierney (Liar Liar, Oxygen), Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, The Abyss), Samuel L. Jackson (Deep Blue Sea, Pulp Fiction), and M. Emmett Walsh (Missing In Action, The Iron Giant).
Video: How does it look?
White Sands is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is easily the best this movie has ever looked, with a clean source print and flawless compression. This transfer seems as if it could be a little on the dark side, but I never noticed any detail loss or murky shadows so I won’t complain too much. The colors seem bright and bold with no smears to be seen and flesh tones also appear natural and warm.
Audio: How does it sound?
This release includes a remastered Dolby Digital 5.1 track which offers an above average audio experience. This isn’t an audio focused film but this track does make nice use of the surrounds, without sounding forced or hollow. The music is the most active element in this mix in terms of the surround use, but the effects take charge when they need to. The dialogue is clean and clear and shows no traces of distortion or volume issues.
Supplements: What are the extras?
You’ll find talent files as well as the theatrical trailer for this and other Warner Bros./Morgan Creek DVDs.
