DVD Corner

One False Move Criterion 4K UHD Review

“One False Move” starts strong, but loses steam in the end.

In 1992’s neo-noir crime thriller “One False Move,” the story revolves around a trio of criminals (the violent Ray, his girlfriend Fantasia, and the calm and collected killer Pluto) who are en route to Texas and Arkansas after murdering 6 people and stealing money and cocaine. The other key characters in this story are 2 LAPD cops (Dud and McFeely) who venture to Star City, Arkansas as they believe the criminals will wind up there. Upon arrival, they meet a cocky, small town cop named Dale (AKA Hurricane) who is eager to prove himself to the big city cops. As the two storylines eventually merge, an unexpected revelation complicates matters.

Skillfully directed by Carl Franklin and written by Tom Epperson and Billy Bob Thornton, “One False Move” starts off as an intense cops and robbers story. Franklin and the writers really go out of their way to create a crime thriller that emphasizes character all while examining the differences between the city and country life (and law enforcement).

Unfortunately, the third act goes a bit off the rails (for my taste anyway). Without spoiling what happens, it is revealed that 2 characters share a connection. To me, this left turn cheapens the movie. Anytime you force characters to be connected it just feels like a cliched move to create more on screen drama. That’s exactly what happens here as the movie veers into what feels like soap opera territory. No, it doesn’t ruin the movie as a whole, but it certainly puts a dent in it.

The cast is the best part of the movie. The late great Bill Paxton is in peak form as Dale. He’s the most layered character in the story and Paxton really digs deep here. Veteran character actor Michael Beach gives an underrated performance here as the deeply unsettling Pluto. Billy Bob Thornton is one of my favorite actors, but this isn’t one of his better performances. He tries a little too hard to be tough. Cynda Williams may not be a recognizable name, but she gives arguably her best performance here as Fantasia who falls in with the wrong crowd. The two character actors who play the cops (Earl Billings and Jim Metzler) also deliver memorable performances. 

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 1080p. How does it look? The 4K digital restoration provides a beautiful new upgrade that maintains the grain while offering up noticeably sharper image quality (especially with the Arkansas exterior scenes).

Audio Track: 2.0 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? Viewers can expect a nice clean 2.0 track.

Extras include a Blu-ray copy, a 1999 commentary with director Carl Franklin, a booklet with an essay by author William Boyle, “One False Move” trailer (on the Blu-ray) and a laidback and involving newly recorded 27 ½ minute conversation between Billy Bob Thornton and Carl Franklin which covers the script, early work, how “One False Move” came about, casting, and more.

July 20, 2023 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | 90's Movie, Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Crime Thriller, Criterion Collection, Neo Noir, One False Move Criterion 4K UHD Review