Rating: 
Summary: "I regretted havin' to fork him in the neck."
Review: Does anyone else besides me enjoy seeing a big name movie star before they made it big? While this wasn't Renée Zellweger's first film role, it was certainly the first where she had a starring credit, and certainly a far cry from her more demure character in 1996's Jerry Mcguire. Love and a .45 (1994), written and directed by Texas native C.M. Talkington (his first writing and directing credit) stars, along with Ms. Zellweger, an early appearance by Gil Bellows (who appeared in a much more famous film the same year titled The Shawshank Redemption and then found a greater degree of fame on the hit FOX television show Ally McBeal), and the ever-entertaining Rory Cochrane, who was once involved with Zellweger, and would later appear with her in Empire Records (1995). Also appearing are Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator), Jace Alexander (Eight Men Out), Ann Wedgeworth (My Science Project), Michael Bowen (Night of the Comet), and Peter Fonda (Easy Rider).
The movie, set in Texas, features Bellows and Zellweger as Watty Watts and Starlene Cheatham, respectively, as a young couple in love living together in modest, mobile surroundings (a trailer home) with their main source of income being Watty robbing convenience stores every once in awhile, when not studying or quoting philosophically from the I Ching. Life has been pretty good for the couple, but Starlene has been pushing for Watty to make an honest woman of her, which leads Watty to borrow a large sum of money from an unscrupulous source (loan shark), and now he must contend with two speed-addicted, gun totin' (does everyone in Texas carry a gun?) collection agents in Dinosaur Bob (Combs) and Creepy Cody (Alexander). Stealing from convenient stores, as you may have figured, while relatively easy, doesn't usually net a large haul, so when Watty's slimy prison buddy Billy Mack Black (Cochrane) comes by with a tip on a large score, Watty sees a chance to get out from under the loan shark's thumb. Things don't go as planned as a clerk gets killed (Billy Mack broke one of Watty's cardinal rules of never carrying a loaded gun, and he's also seriously addicted to crystal meth, a form of speed that makes one highly unpredictable apparently), Watty and Billy have a falling out (ending with Billy getting a fork stuck in an uncomfortable place). Watty, fearing legal entanglements (jail) decides to head for Mexico with his new bride Starlene, with Dinosaur Bob, Creepy Cody, and Billy Mack not far behind, two looking for the money owed, and the third looking for revenge. Oh yeah, Watty and Starlene are now also plastered all over the TV as a state wide hunt by Texas Law enforcement gears up (the clerk who got killed was related to someone high up within the law enforcement community). Yes, Mexico's looking pretty good for Watty and Starlene, what with three trigger-happy speed freaks and the state of Texas, where the popular form of capital punishment is the electric char, hot on their heels.
I did enjoy this film a lot. I've noticed others have compared it to Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers (which came out the same year), and while there are certainly similarities, I believe Love and a .45 stands on its' own without, as another reviewer astutely stated, all the pretension or psychotropic cinematography of Stone's film. If anything, I would compare it more to David Lynch's Wild at Heart, which came out four years earlier. I think Talkington did a wonderful job in the writing and directing of his first film, much better than many others' first outings. Not only did he present fun, engaging, and interesting characters, but he also used the backdrop of Texas well, suggesting an intimate familiarity of a true native of the state (which he is). Zellweger is terminally cute, suitably trashy, and very dangerous (when Watty is threatened) as Starlene and Bellows' character of the deep thinking Watty brought forth a lesser image of Nicholas Cage's character of Sailor Ripley in David Lynch's Wild at Heart (1990), a much better film finally seeing a DVD release December '04...check it out. Cochrane was entertaining as the psychotic Billy Mack, especially the scene when he's getting a rather large and obvious tattoo on his shaved head. My favorite character was that of Dinosaur Bob, played by Jeffery Combs. I'm a big fan of Combs, and I have to say, I didn't even recognize him here at first. His presence on the screen nearly ellipses the others in just about any scene he appears, as he get his character full on, chewing the heck out of the scenery. He's just a lot of fun to watch here, as he is in most of his film appearances. Fonda and Wedgeworth appear as Starlene's hippy parents, and play their roles well, but I never got the impression they were really stretching their abilities too much, playing characters stereotypical to the actors. Their characters lacked strength, but since they were supporting cast, I can't be too critical. I thought the choice of music was really appropriate and with artists like The Flaming Lips, Meat Puppets, Mazzy Star, Reverend Horton Heat, and Johnny Cash. One thing I feel I should mention is that there's a lot of violence and use of profanity in the film (but surprisingly little nekkidness, none by Zellweger, although she does don the short shorts, or Daisy Dukes, if you will, quite often...nothing like flirtatious, young white trash...), so if those kinds things turn you off, then you'd be wise to skip this movie.
The wide screen print on this DVD looks really good, although I thought the audio a bit soft at times, but there are English subtitles available. There are a number of special features available, including deleted scenes, a production commentary track, a Reverend Horton Heat music video, and storyboard comparisons (you get to see the original storyboard and then the actual scene from the film side by side)
Cookieman108
Rating:
Summary: startlingly good, violent drama
Review: Frenzied, stylish road movie in the off-beat lovers-on-the-run vein of Natural Born Killers or True Romance. Watty (Gil Bellows) and Starlene (Renee Zellweger) are our heros on the run after a botched robbery attempt when Watty and his vicious accomplice Billy (Rory Cochrane) leaves a counter girl dead, at the hands of Billy. On there trail are the demented criminals, Creepy Cody, Dinosaur Bob and Billy, who was left for dead. But our lovers are not killers, just simply misjudged. The over-the-top acting by an excellent cast and a surprisingly smart and lively script make for an exceptional film. Among road movies, this ranks as one of the very best. Rated R for strong brutal bloody violence, pervasive strong profanity, sexual situations, drug use and content, and a scene of nudity.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as pretentious as Natual Born Killers
Review: Hey, not bad for what looks (at first) like a rip-off of the Stone flick. You actually LIKE the good guys in this movie. Zellweger and Bellows make a great pair, Jeffrey Combs is wonderful as the psychotic Dinosaur Bob, and the movie works well as a disturbing comedy. You could say its Tarantino-esqe, but why bother with labels?
Rating: 
Summary: A great find
Review: I just got hired at a fairly small video store that tends to carry more of whatever is popular and sells, but I noticed this on the shelf when I was putting things back, so I took it home and enjoyed it a lot. Great all around movie that you can enjoy on more than one level. It's a bit more than a movie you don't have to think about when you watch (as it was called earlier)
Rating:
Summary: THIS IS MY FAVORITE MOVIE!!!!!
Review: I love this movie! Buy it now!!!! It is the best indie flick out there! The soundtrack is awesome, but nearly impossible to find. Renee Zelleweger plays Starlene Cheetam and Gil Bellows of (Ally McBeal) plays Watty Watts and nothing will stand in their way of their honeymoon....not even a couple of murders, robbery, speed freaks, or Billy Mack!!! If you are totally confused, buy or rent this movie. You will not be disapointed. "I was born on a green light Daddy-O!!!!"
Rating:
Summary: I'M ROLLIN ON THE GREEN LIGHT DADDY!
Review: I rented this movie to see Rory Cochrane and thought that it was a great film!Rorys performance was great-really believable-I didnt care much for the two lovebirds-they were too boring-and the lovey dovey scenes got a little irrating. I aslo found the soundtrack-I was happy that day! I dont see why Rory had to die-those two lovers killed two cops and they get off the hook? Yeah right! I also thought that stupid counter girl deserved to die-maybe if she wasn't acting like an idiot she would of lived! I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes action and killing but if you hate sappy love stories I guess you will just have to live with it.
Rating:
Summary: Way better than you'd expect
Review: I watched this movie on a whim in 1995, and now I own it. Tarantino could never do something this good because he doesn't have a Midwest or Texas vibe, which this movie has, and more (even Texas Rockabillymaniac Horton Neat shows briefly). Zellweger uses her charm in a way no other actress can -- her looks actually blend with her substantial talent. Bellows' performance is perfect. NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED is the performance of Rory Cochrane. He acts like he was born for the role.
Rating:
Summary: A darker side of Renee Zellweger
Review: I'll admit that I own "Love and a .45" mainly because I'm a HUGE fan of Renee Zellweger and worship the ground she walks on. Not only is she beautiful but she has talent, and she proves that yet again in this "running-from-the-law" flick. She also proves that she can take on any type of role and be great in it, and her role in this movie almost takes a 180-degree turn from her typical roles in other movies. But Renee isn't the only reason to own this movie. I was equally impressed with the performances of all the other actors. Some scenes, especially the violent ones, are somewhat over-the-top, but then again that's what makes this movie so fun to watch. And contrary to what many say I found the level of violence high but not excessive. This isn't only a "shoot 'em up" pointless movie; there's more than just stage blood. As for the DVD itself, bonus features are adequate but not overwhelming. I'm not too crazy about the letterbox format but at least the image and sound quality are good. All in all, a great movie for the fan of the "Pulp Fiction" style, or anyone who wants to see Renee Zellweger as a "bad girl." And get the soundtrack too!
Rating:
Summary: A darker side of Renee Zellweger
Review: I'll admit that I own "Love and a .45" mainly because I'm a HUGE fan of Renee Zellweger and worship the ground she walks on. Not only is she beautiful but she has talent, and she proves that yet again in this "running-from-the-law" flick. She also proves that she can take on any type of role and be great in it, and her role in this movie almost takes a 180-degree turn from her typical roles in other movies. But Renee isn't the only reason to own this movie. I was equally impressed with the performances of all the other actors. Some scenes, especially the violent ones, are somewhat over-the-top, but then again that's what makes this movie so fun to watch. And contrary to what many say I found the level of violence high but not excessive. This isn't only a "shoot 'em up" pointless movie; there's more than just stage blood. As for the DVD itself, bonus features are adequate but not overwhelming. I'm not too crazy about the letterbox format but at least the image and sound quality are good. All in all, a great movie for the fan of the "Pulp Fiction" style, or anyone who wants to see Renee Zellweger as a "bad girl." And get the soundtrack too!
Rating:
Summary: This movie rules!
Review: If you liked Natural Born Killers you'll like Love and a .45 it's almost the same movie. Everything you liked about NBK is in this movie too.
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