One False Move Reviews

One False Move was simply a beautiful, and little seen, crime film. Three drug dealers on the run are suspected to be heading towards Arkansas. Here, a couple of big city cops meet up with the local sheriff. Paxton is fantastic in this role. He's not very worldly, has never had to use his gun, and is just a little too excited about the approaching threat. His enthusiasm comes off as naivety, and he is laughed off by the LAPD. The film does well to follow the cops and the killers. We see a bizarre triangle between the murderers. Thornton is filled with anger and out of control, whereas his partner is cool and calm but ultimately terrifying. The pacing of this film was done very well, offering moments of tension in a film that has a lot of waiting around. It also harvests a lot of emotion and depth for its characters. Paxton comes off the best as a giddy little boy waiting for Christmas. There are some great moments, such as his reaction to hearing the teasing from the city cops. Another scene sees him use the "n" word in front of the black cop. His facial expression is priceless, as he realises what he has said. Eventually Paxton takes responsibility, and he shows that his enthusiasm masks his competence. A big fish in a small pond. One False Move is very dark, but has a lot going for it. Most of all the tender ending.

lean and mean neo-noir. too bad carl franklin never made another film this good

As two psychotic murderers and their sexy bi-racial moll make their way across Texas towards Star City, Arkansas, the enthusiastic but inexperienced police chief (Bill Paxton) prepares eagerly for the arrival of the big-time crooks. Well-scripted and executed thriller/drama with a twist on the stock character of the hick sheriff and a surprisingly emotional climax.

A decent detective thriller, ONE FALSE MOVE is a neo-noir that features a strong cast and an intriguing turn of events that goes from urban Los Angeles through Texas to rural Arkansas. Although characterizations are a bit shallow as it is difficult to invest in any of the people we meet on-screen (criminal or cop alike), Carl Franklin and his crew manage to do a smart job in touching upon racial issues, botched relationships, and life regrets as well as the guilt and pain that come with it.

Hard boiled. Pretty much unmemorable.

Solid direction but ultimately a disappointment. A few parts greatly intrigued me, but as for the rest of the film, it was pretty much routine for a crime thriller.

Its an effective and unpredictable thriller that works because its focus is the people involved rather than the events that they put into motion. I also like the fact that the central figures of the story (outside of the Bill Paxton Character) are murderers and drug dealers.

Solid direction but ultimately a disappointment. A few parts greatly intrigued me, but as for the rest of the film, it was pretty much routine for a crime thriller.

Carl Franklin arrives on the film making scene with a loud BOOM.

An incredibly intelligent and tense crime thriller with amazing performances and awesome characters. Another fantastic Paxton performance as the hick sheriff with a secret. Most films would just pass off this character as a dumb yokel local, but Franklin gives him more personality than most lead characters in Hollywood dramas. A seriously amazing film.
Also see review for Deep Cover.

excellent script about violent criminals & the cops who chase them from LA to Arkansas. it's a story of clashing dynamics & unique characters. good script, good acting, rookie director, dumb title.

Good movie with some great acting and a pretty cool storyline.. had some intense moments as well.. worth watching

"Can their awful and messy plan actually pay off?"

A brutally satisfying neo-noir crime thriller thats along the same lines as The Coen Brothers "Fargo" and Sam Raimi's "A Simple Plan". A dark, brutally violent and expertly crafted film that's ferocious in its intensity and explosively tough for the entire duration. An adrenaline fueled and pulse-pounding achievement that features a lethal cocktail of brute force energy and tremendously gritty neo-noir elements. Directed by Carl Franklin (Devil In A Blue Dress, Out Of time) One False Move has all of the elements of an old-school film noir, especially the signature uneasy feeling throughout the entire film, a great film noir continuously keeps the viewer on edge with a barrage of supremely uneasy feelings for the entire runtime which One False Move does quite well in fact. Its one of Carl Franklin's more authentic films, its packed with a tremendous amount of tension, high-octane suspense, raw firepower and white-knuckle hardcore hardboiled grit. Franklin and company deliver a searingly absorbing story of two psychotic murderers on the run from the law, its hair-raising, bone chilling, exceptionally dark and quite deranged. Definately well worth a look. A thrilling and extremely atmospheric early 90's neo-noir crime thriller thats effective and a complete knockout.
The cast is great featuring excellent performances from Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Cynda Williams, Jim Metzler, Michael Beach and Earl Billings.

Bill gets involved more than he knows. Bob is bad and they end up where they belong. The sheriff is a good guy.

I thot this movie was great. A lot of cussing (Billy Bob's in it so should be expected). The cop seen on the highway totally realistic as to how most cops would react.

A very great Independent film starring Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton. A small town sheriff works with big city detectives to catch 3 criminals on their way to the town. A well down and well acted drama for everyone to see.

Great character driven drama from director Carl Franklin. I think this is a truly underated, little-known movie. Tense.

I wasn't overly impressed. The writing had some potential, but with issues like character development, it seemed like a stalling engine. The progression would start, accelerate, and then seem to just sputter to a stop. Repeatedly. I am all for suspension of disbelief when seeing a film, but this stretched it too far for me. I couldn't even finish it, which may be part of the reason behind my low rating. I am willing to concede that, had I watched it to its completion, I might not be quite as dissatisfied. That, unfortunately, was not a risk I was willing to take.

Meh. Decent film, not great. Pretty run of the mill acting, even by 1992 standards.

The characters and dialogue is cliche and uninteresting so much so that I could not even watch the entire film. Boring. Dull. Predictable. Irritating.