Desert Saints (2002)

Short: Banks (Kiefer Sutherland) is a hit man who uses women to do the work that may get him caught, then he kills them. For he latest and last hit, he picks up Bennie (Melora Walters), a sultry hitch-hiker with a secret past. Scanlon (Jamey Sheridan) and Marbury (Leslie Stefanson) are feds hot on his trail, and a simple enough hit quickly dissolves into a game of betrayal.

Let's all agree that it has been quite some time since April reviewed a Kiefer Sutherland movie. Aren't you impressed?

You should be.

You should not, however, be impressed with this movie. A ho-hum betrayal tale between cops and criminals doesn't do much for me when it's as formulaic as this one. Of course, that explains why writer/director Richard Greenberg and co-writer Wally Nichols haven't done anything since. There's nothing in the screenplay or direction to catch the audience's attention and/or maintain it.

Sutherland, as always, demonstrates that he's a formidable villain with a tongue laced with double talk and cruelty. He seems nice enough one minute, but that can change in a snap.

Walters wasn't nearly as good, but I liked her anyway. Everything I read described her as "sexy", and, while I wouldn't agree with that, I would go as far as to say that she did more than just put up a tough girl front.

Overall, though, I can't in good conscience recommend this one. It's not enough to anything to be worthwhile and not bad enough for me to dismiss it. C