Don't Come Knocking (2006)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: The cinematography conjures beautifully evocative landscapes, but aside from that, the film is meandering and pointless.
Don't Come Knocking Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as Howard
as Doreen
as Sutter
as Earl
as Sky
as Amber
as Howard's Mother
as Director
as Producer No. 2
as Businessman
as Wild Eye
as Desk Clerk
as Trailer Twin No. 1
as Producer #1
as Trailer Twin No. 2
as Casino Bartender
as Cliff Ormsby
as Mr. Daily
as Old Ranch Hand
as Elko Waitress
as Elko Policeman
as Second Assistant Director
as Mickey, First Assistant Director
as Starlet
as Drunken Girl
as Garbageman
News & Interviews for Don't Come Knocking
Critic Reviews for Don't Come Knocking
All Critics (102) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (58) | DVD (7)
Despite the film's false notes, its balladlike moods ring true.
By the time we get to the point where the camera is endlessly circling Shepard sitting on a sofa in the middle of the street, it feels as if he and his director were making things up as they went along.
The story is as meandering as it is self-indulgent.
The charm here is in watching Shepard and Lange, and Shepard and Saint play off one another, and the leisurely pace of the 'discoveries' that aren't really secrets in the first place.
Spence has much in common with Shepard and Wenders. They seem equally bewildered about what to do, other than spending nearly two hours demonstrating that Spence is a self-pitying fool.
Suffers badly from an emotional aimlessness.
Audience Reviews for Don't Come Knocking
Very impressed with this film. A great anti-Western, it's depicting a world outside of the Western genre still shot in, basically, the Western genre. The leading man echoes Clint Eastwood in a way - Clint's got six children by a few different women - and you can't help but ask what that's like when the on-screen cowboy has an off-screen cowboy story of a life to live. Utah, Nevada and Montana look beautiful and desperate in this film, and though it starts off sort of comically, it becomes clear that there is a lot of pain in these characters. Well-acted and well-shot, if not an example of super writing, I'm still hearing that Don't Come Knocking isn't one of Wim Wenders' best. It's the first of his movies I've watched, and it's opened my eyes to his oeuvre nevertheless. Coming from Germany, it blows my mind that he can tell a wonderfully American story like this one, but thanks to this film I'll be sure to visit Paris, Texas shortly. Lots of meta-film going on here, too: how many movies are actually filmed in Bute, Montana? Import Sam Shepard, Jessica Lange, Sarah Polley et al to the town, and you have to wonder if it could have had a real effect on the town akin to the one the main character's film did within the story... probably not, but it's a question that makes it interesting. It's hard to say much about this movie without spoiling it, and it does move really slowly, but I was hanging off it the whole way - suffice to say that in a later scene, why the White Stripes make sense to America, the world and me was hammered home, which might've made the movie in itself. The style and the chase at the heart of the story seemed like an inspiration for No Country For Old Men, too... at any rate, in my opinion, this is a film (and probably a director) not to be missed.
Super Reviewer
Faraway,so close dear Wenders...it's a shame,really,to stuck en route for the American dream as you say in all your filmography,discovering the core and then self-exploding?A pity,this was the pinnacle of Wenders' journey.I believe it's about time to pick up the rest of the pieces and think of concrete ideas instead of dead end road trips.I wish I hadn't given one star on this but he wouldn't leave me any other option.Utter failure.
Super Reviewer
The poetic journey of an aging cowboy who seeks for redemption and forgiveness. Wenders lyric take on an existencial drama, with exceptional and touching performances by Sam Shepard, Jessica Lange and Sarah Polley.
Super Reviewer
Don't Come Knocking Quotes
| Sky: | Why did you let so much time go by? |
| Howard Spence: | I didn't know it was passing. |
| Sky: | I think I like the movies better. |
| Doreen: | Than what? Better than what? |
| Sky: | Than real life. |
| Howard's Mother: | Lying is for cowards. |
| Sutter: | Share this quote -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Howard Spence: Mind if I turn the radio on? Sutter: Yes, I do, as a matter of fact. I don't like outside influence. Howard Spence: Outside? Sutter: That's right. The world at large. It's a nasty place. Why allow it in? Livestalk reports, Navajo chanting, beheadings, bestiality. Nothing's changed. Black Death, the Inquisition, the Crusades, conquest of Mexico. What's changed? Howard Spence: I was thinking... Sutter: What? Howard Spence: I don't know. Sutter: Nothing's changed. Howard Spence: Guess not. |
| Howard Spence: | Mind if I turn the radio on? |
| Sutter: | Yes, I do, as a matter of fact. I don't like outside influence. |
| Howard Spence: | Outside? |