Desert Saints (2002) User Reviews

good Kiefer movie

[monkey-man · 6/10 · 27 August 2005]

3rd movie in my Kiefer Sutherland movie marathon.

I have seen half of Kiefers movies and this movie is really good but he has been in way better movies then this one.Kiefer does a great job at acting in this movie and so does the good looking Melora Walters from the good movie The Butterfly Effect.

There are some good scenes in this movie like when Kiefer shoots a man in the bath room and all the scenes in the end of the movie are all so good.

Over all this is a good Kiefer Sutherland movie and it is worth renting and my rating is 6 out of 10.

Run of the mill Cops & Assassin

[BKinzeys · 5/10 · 3 May 2007]

Good acting and an interesting storyline but the script is below par. As they say if you don't have a good script you won't have a good movie.

Interesting premise and there is a twist (2 twists actually) to the ending which brings this up to just beyond a "B" movie. Then it stops there.

Meg Ryan is credited as a producer and she certainly picks better movies to act in than produce.

Our lead character, Jack, is a hired... No - wait. Kiefer Sutherland is Arthur Banks, a world class hit-man who happens to wear Jack's Ray-Bans (see 24) and is traveling to his next job. He picks up a woman for a cover and accomplice along the way. The Feds are just two steps behind him.

Whomever wrote this needed some help in fact checking and reality.

At one point there is talk of a tungsten core bullet that spins faster which enhances accuracy. Um, no. It doesn't matter if a bullet is lead, copper, tin, steel or gold. That doesn't affect the spin rate.

The movie starts out in the Southwest. Yet they drive for at least 3 or 4 days before entering Mexico. All on 2 lane roads. Sure, I can see not making a bee line but that's a little silly.

A couple of bodies need to be dumped. Not much thought is given on where to dump them so as not to be discovered. The first one is why not in the bushes? The second body is a good place as long as nobody has a sense of smell.

Don't you think if the Feds were given permission to enter Mexico the Mexican Authorities would at least tag along?

Not worth renting and see what else is on TV before watching.

I'm not a tough guy - I'm just careful!

[lastliberal · 6/10 · 6 August 2007]

Bennie Harper (Melora Walters): You sure are a tough guy. Arthur Banks(Kiefer Sutherland): What are you talking about? Bennie Harper: You talk like a tough guy, you walk like a tough guy, you even order drinks like a tough guy... Arthur Banks: I'm not a tough guy - I'm just careful! Bennie Harper: Careful of what? Arthur Banks: Of pretty women...

Well, he wasn't careful enough, but I can't say any more that that without giving it away. Suffice it to say that this was a very interesting story about hit-man Banks, and a girl he picked up (Harper) to help him complete a job. The two acted like an old married couple as they haggles, and argues, and generally got on each others nerves until the job was done.

In the meantime, they are being chased by the FBI in the persons of Rachel Ticotin (Con Air, Total Recall) and Jamey Sheridan ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent").

But the film belonged to Walters (Boogie Nights, Magnoloa) and her gorgeous breasts, and to Sutherland ("24").

A Nifty Indie Triplecross!

[cariart · 12 November 2002]

Desert Saints is a surprisingly good 'hitman with a twist' tale by first time writer/director Richard Greenberg. He takes the standard 'assassin's last hit' formula, and shakes it up by introducing FBI agents with their own agendas, a 'plant' who may or may not be falling for the gunman, and, in Kiefer Sutherland, a hero/villain who is ruthless, sexy, and, ultimately, sympathetic. His performance is remarkable, and is matched by Melora Walters, as the latest of his string of doomed accomplices, who is keeping even more secrets than he is! She shows a remarkable range in her role, at times ditzy, at times mysterious and sexy, and, by the film's climax, intelligent and self-sufficient.

For an indie, the cast is first-rate all the way, with the always reliable Jamey Sheridan as a veteran FBI agent, as dedicated to his job as Sutherland is to his; Leslie Stefanson as Sheridan's second-in-command, and the wild card of the operation; and, in a very sexy cameo, Rachel Ticotin, who smolders as a waitress and occasional bedmate for Sutherland.

Greenberg cleverly uses flashbacks and flashforwards to lull the viewer into believing they know how the story will end, then springs a surprise that works extremely well, and will have you paying VERY close attention to detail during the last five minutes! While the ambiguous ending may disappoint some viewers, it offers a clever 'capper' to this tale of betrayal, and works for me!

If you are a fan of Sutherland, or stories with a twist and enough sensuality to raise your heartbeat a few notches, 'Desert Saints' is the film for you!

The movie sticks with you

[alice-246 · 7/10 · 18 December 2007]

Aside from the really annoying "flash forward" moments, this movie is pretty good -- better than I expected. I think the most amazing scene is when Banks reflects on what it's like to kill someone. It's like Banks is Jack Bauer's amoral twin -- Jack hates to kill but does it because it's necessary to save his country; Banks hates to kill but does it because it's necessary to pay for his expensive lifestyle.

Melora Walters is miscast. I wonder if the role was originally offered to Meg Ryan, since she seems to be one of the producers.

Also annoying -- Kiefer spouting Latin epigrams. Banks may have been an ivy-league educated genius, but in my experience (and, yes, I do have some experience of the type!) they don't study Latin anymore.

And, the last, single gunshot at the end -- I have to wonder if there was another gunshot "after" -- or, maybe Banks lets one of the targets live? Which one?

Disappointing but not bad

[pkjoker · 7/10 · 15 May 2010]

I thought this movie would be better than I thought and the description of the movie is also different from the film itself. The film started off great then it got bit sillier and sillier as it went on till the ending was the worst and could of been better.

But i have to admit it had its spark's and moment's all of which Kiefer Sutherland made of course with the rest of the cast keeping up.

One that would make a good sit in and watch something because your bored. If your a Kiefer Sutherland fan you will like this movie more and also is one that you shouldn't think much about. Good rental movie but wouldn't spend over a fiver for it

Mindlessly Good Fun! But...

[fftmephisto · 6/10 · 3 March 2012]

Mindlessly good fun, the usual fare for a low-budget hit man drama.

While I often find flashbacks and bounce-arounds to be rather annoying and often confusing, this is not the case for this film. I found the "back-and-forth" clearly done and it built the story in a way not often done effectively in television and movies.

I have a very liberal "suspension of disbelief" mindset and one area of the film prevented me from pushing this to a 7 because the challenge for my SOD was too much to overcome.

Without spoiling anything, there is a scene that involves his "partner's" husband. I would consider it a turning-point scene.

HOWEVER... for a guy who has been so meticulous, careful, and able to keep the authorities at bay for the entirety of his career, the circumstances that take place in that scene should absolutely have tipped him off that something was amiss. Even a crappy hit man would have been able to put two-and-two together and even for good, mindless film fun... was hard to get around for me.

Of course, had he been able to figure it out, the film probably wouldn't have been able to move much further, but that doesn't change the implausibility I found for a hit man of his caliber (pun intended). And no, I wasn't looking for an Oscar effort here, but when you challenge my SOD so severely, sometimes it just doesn't work out.

Despite my complaint on that *specific* issue - if you're looking to just get lost in a reasonably interesting story, this gets a recommendation from me.

There's a menacing critter roaming the desert -- a deadly scorpion with a sting ... an 8.5" .357 Colt Python Magnum

[grainstorms · 7/10 · 21 June 2015]

A surprisingly entertaining movie , "Desert Saints" offers a subtle yet scary Kiefer Sutherland as a refined and resourceful hit man who fastidiously buries his kill in the desert as neatly as a teacher erasing a problem from a whiteboard. It also has more twists and turns than a sidewinder going after a kangaroo rat.

Sutherland, who, by this time, could do this part in cruise control, instead turns in an edgy, sympathetic three-dimensional performance that's full-blooded while remaining cold-blooded.

Come along for the ride as professional assassin Arthur Banks (Kiefer Sutherland) picks up hitchhiking Bennie Harper (Melora Walters-- "Magnolia"), a well-built waif with an interestingly irregular profile and a childishness that is not at all naïve.

The car's a bit crowded because there are two more passengers -- Temptation and Treachery. This pair of backseat drivers are going to have a lot to say about how this very bumpy ride along the country's most arid landscape is going to end.

On the trail of the murderous Mr. Banks is the FBI, in the person of the always welcome Jamey Sheridan (Capt. Deakins in "Law & Order -- Criminal Intent" and the very frightening good ol' boy from Hell in the TV miniseries made from Stephen King's "The Stand") as Special Agent George Scanlon, a cop with a grudge and a long memory. Riding shotgun with him is Agent Donna Marbury ( Leslie Stefanson -- 1999's "The General's Daughter"), whose violet-blue eyes see much more than she's telling.

In his first film as director, long-time assistant director Richard Greenberg ("Jumpin' Jack Flash") , also credited as the writer, doesn't let up the tension for a minute and his outstanding cast never let him down. Some very nice acting, crisp, often funny dialogue, and jump-out-of-your-skin goings-on make "Desert Saints" an oasis in the too-often barren terrain of made-for-TV thrillers.

Partial review because

[Aristides-2 · 1/10 · 13 December 2006]

of baseball rules, i.e. three strikes and you're out. Strike one: Pre-credit sequence shows a 007 wannabe checking into a south-of-the-border resort. Suitcase opens and a complete snipers kit is assembled. A long shot shows a large outdoor party very distant in the frame. And then. And then. Cut to the credits. Yes, a hit man thriller that doesn't hook you with a depicted killing! Strike two: 00-1/4 is about to kill a young woman (it's his usual M.O.) He kills vulnerable women who he trains just for a particular hit. But instead of just shooting her, at let's say, 5 feet, he allows the poor thing to sprint into the distance and then, un-holstering his Magnum .41 or .45, he takes aim and gets a clean hit at about 2 to 3 hundred feet. What a shot! He suffers no hearing loss, by the way, holding this huge caliber revolver next to his ear. Then, when he approaches the body, shovel in hand, we find this super professional hit man has done the dirty deed, 100 feet or so, parallelling the major southwest highway he's driven on to get to the place! Absolutely no concern for any other vehicle that might pass by in broad daylight.) (Hmmm. Seems like we're up to strike four.) Strike three: Wanting sex after killing someone he finds an isolated truck stop and takes a comely waitress to his motel room, something he's been doing with this babe for 12 years, and without any foreplay (think lubrication here folks. And unprotected sex, of course.) they attack each other sexually like they are horny teenagers about to schtupp for the first time. Yup. Strike three, four, five and enough, enough and more than enough. A tired, tiring and tiresome movie, all strikes described happening within ten minutes or so.

Having Fun with a Hired Gun

[wes-connors · 6/10 · 1 August 2010]

Professional assassin Kiefer Sutherland (as Arthur "Joe" Banks) and his wife check into a hotel. After he takes out a huge gun, we switch to a dusty road. A lone car speeds, then stops. A frantic woman gets out, tosses her cookies, and starts to run. The driver turns out to be Mr. Sutherland. He wipes off his shoes, shoots the running woman, and buries her body. After having handcuff sex with a local waitress, Sutherland picks up down-on-her-luck diabetic Melora Walters (as Bennie Harper)...

Sporting a fresh cigar burn, and a handwritten "Paradise or Bust" sign, Ms. Walters is out of gas, money, and luck. Cross-cut characters Leslie Stefanson (as Donna Marbury) and Jamey Sheridan (as George Scanlon) reveal Sutherland is a high paid assassin; he specializes in picking up fly-by-night women as partners, and kills them when the hit is done. They are after Sutherland, who is on his way to assassinate a Mexican politician. This is an unassuming time passer, done in by a puzzling last shot.

****** Desert Saints (3/10/02) Richard Greenberg ~ Kiefer Sutherland, Melora Walters, Leslie Stefanson, Jamey Sheridan

Terribly Disappointing

[NIXFLIX-DOT-COM · 3/10 · 16 September 2003]

Yet another generic movie about a hitman on that final, last job before his retirement into lalaland (or wherever it is movie hitmen go when they retire). Keifer Sutherland plays the lead character, but the award for Most Annoying Lead in the world has to go to the young woman who plays opposite him. It's mind boggling that a hitman of Keifer's status (who purports to be a genius), would bring along someone so abrasive and counter productive to his intentions. You'd think a supposedly super smart hitman would know better, apparently not.

The film is ultimately too silly for its own good. A twist at the end, which comes out so far from left field that saying it "doesn't make sense" is a disservice to all the movies that "doesn't make sense".

DESERT SAINTS is just...dumb.

3 out of 10

(go to www.nixflix.com for a more detailed review of the film)

quite good

[Jonas Kyratzes · 10/10 · 3 April 2002]

The only reason I wanted to watch this movie was Kiefer Sutherland. He had greatly impressed me with his brilliant performance in Dark City, and I wanted to see more. As it turned out, the entire movie was pretty good. The story is not too original, but it's got plenty of twists and a very interesting main character. The acting is very good, especially Sutherland's. The movie is well-directed and not boring at all. the music is good, too. Recommended.

American ( B+ Movie) My Ratings 7/10

[THE-BEACON-OF-MOVIES-RAFA · 7/10 · 12 October 2022]

Another underrated film..

I over look a lot of independent films. Especially ones that are clearly either made for tv or have been directly transferred to dvd. This one, produced by Meg Ryan, puts doubt into my preference as this is actually quite a good film. Don't get me wrong, it's not the next best Leon but it does one hell of a job. Partly due to Kiefer Sutherland who is perfect as the anithero in this story of a hitman. Stories of lone hitmen always intrigue me as it is one of the most interesting character progressions in film stories.

It kept my interest although I wouldn't rush out to see again. I liked it.

So cheesy, so bad, it's not even worthy of a 'C movie' status

[GoldmundX · 1/10 · 7 May 2008]

I bought the DVD as part of a promotion package, looking for movies that I would probably not enjoy very much, but that would be entertaining enough to watch while working out on my cross trainer (movies I wouldn't want to waste time at otherwise). But man, was I mistaken. It was complete horror watching this. The positive thing was that the anger and frustration that built up inside of me while watching it, could be unleashed in my workout (although I still have some left to write this comment). But I was close to tearing it out of my DVD player and destroying the Thing. A total disgrace. Beforehand I thought it might even turn out to be an OK movie, as Keifer Sutherland is definitely not the worst actor out there, but I'm surprised he got work after participating in this, this... rrrrr. The acting and screenplay are so painful, I was thinking at one point this must be a spoof. But even then, it would have been a sick, sick joke. If you try and copy from other movies, if you use so many clichés, at the very least (I mean, you have examples right?) try and reach a minimum level of quality. Enough time wasted on this. There's nothing that I can think of that could be a bigger waste of time than this movie. Watching the toilet flush for 88 minutes will be a better investment than watching this mindless, pretentious, lifeless eyesore.

I think if you're a Kiefer fan, you'll enjoy this.

[UK_Melia · 20 October 2003]

If you're not a Kiefer fan, I'm not so sure. Me, I'm a Kiefer fan and while I will say I liked this film well enough, I'll also say it's not the best film in the world. I enjoyed Kiefer's ability to play a professional killer and yet you actually kind of like him by the end of it. I did not like Melora Walters. Her voice grated on me I guess. Jamey Sheridan (The Walkin' Dude from Stephen King's 'The Stand') was completely wasted in this I felt. He's a great actor as well but I don't think his character was developed enough.

In fact, I'd say none of the characters were really well-developed. And as a fan of character study movies, I was disappointed in this. But it wasn't *all* bad. There are quite a few scenes I found enjoyable to watch but overall, it's just a so-so flick.

so-so

[pepekwa · 6/10 · 26 June 2011]

I'm not the greatest fan of the flashbacks in movies where you see future events while you're trying to digest whats going on in the present and this movie is full of this. First time writer-director richard greenberg tried too hard here throwing out too many plot lines, some fit, some don't. For such an accomplished assassin why would banks take a chance on bennie when there so many red flags like her "ex husband" just showing up like that, how on earth did no-one hear any gunshots on the balcony and right at the end, banks supposedly showing up was too much, these are just off the top of my head. This aside, it was an entertaining thriller and kiefer is in "24" mode here so fans of that will like him here.

Another cops vs hitman ho-hummer

[=G= · 5/10 · 11 March 2002]

"Desert Saints" is an oddly titled and obviously contrived journeyman drama which tells the tale of a hit man (Sutherland) and a female accomplice of questionable allegiance (Walters). The film has all the ear marks of a low budget tv-direct flick with the usual plot holes, staginess, and obvious scripting. Don't expect much action, pyrotechnics, chases, firefights, stunts, sex, nudity, romance from this mediocre drama with an awful ending. An okay watch for the hard up couch potato but little more.

A movie that is like an idling automobile!

[bobscott · 1/10 · 10 March 2002]

This movie apparently STARTS at one point, and could be said to end at a later time. However, the moments from start to finish are painfully slow and there is a biting lack of dialogue or action, all interspersed with pointless momemnts of complete nothingness! It's like this movie is a void!

There may be some who think the story progresses nicely, revealing new plot points at just the right points. To these people, I must ask if they were watching the same film as the one I saw! The story is shallow, the characters are shallow, and the directing is mediocre at best.

At just over 2 hours, this film is a complete waste of time. It's existence is completely unjustifiable. Of course, that could be said of many movies that actually see theatrical release in recent years. My advice: Avoid this film unless you're doing a study in how to make a below-average modern-noir film.

Very enjoyable movie

[Maryah · 9/10 · 14 May 2002]

This movie was a lot of fun to watch, and I hope it gets released on DVD because I would buy it in an instant. Kiefer Sutherland turns in an excellent performance as the very interesting character Banks. My biggest problem in watching movies is that I tend to be easily bored, but I was never bored watching this movie. It was thoroughly engaging and entertaining throughout. The script is a good one, with wonderful dialogue, and I think the direction is excellent as well. Well worth seeing.

In the absence of anything else...

[over-13829 · 4/10 · 29 May 2020]

I liked Kiefer Sutherland in a few movies, but this is not one of them. The character he plays was a big tough, famous assassin and long wanted by the police. He was not at all convincing in this role. Banks did not suspect that there was something wrong with his partner, he felt absolutely nothing. Such a famous assassin, as he was presented, could not be fooled so easily. I think this is one of the reasons that made from the movie one without suspense.

very interesting film

[jackielang · 9 June 2004]

i saw this movie last night for the first time. i thought it was very interesting though a bit muddled and confusing in the first half especially. the film jumps back and forth in time with flashforwards and flashbacks without notice. until you figure this out it is a bit confusing and jarring. the ending is unexpected and to a certain degree unsatisfying as part of it comes out of nowhere. still it's an interesting movie that you think about afterwards and may want to see twice just to understand better. the acting is good. kiefer is fine and hunky for all the women out there. melora walters is great and you will fall in love with her like i did. ** 1/2 stars

Keifer

[ratosthns · 1/10 · 8 October 2022]

Would find it very difficult to finf a cast as bad as this. Another flop that is full of bit part actors who cannot act and all believe they should be the lead. The overacting is palpable.

The script is appalling, no continuity, with time fillers throughout for a very, very basic story.

Every role, every character, is so false and transparent, it would be hard nnot to laugh as most of the actors lines made them smirk and grimace.

Would find it very difficult to finf a cast as bad as this. Another flop that is full of bit part actors who cannot act and all believe they should be the lead. The overacting is palpable.

The script is appalling, no continuity, with time fillers throughout for a very, very basic story.

Every role, every character, is so false and transparent, it would be hard nnot to laugh as most of the actors lines made them smirk and grimace.

The back roads of Arizona

[jotix100 · 8/10 · 13 October 2005]

Richard Greenberg, the director of "Desert Saints", has been involved with a lot of movies as an assistant director. It's clear he has learned his craft well. This film, which he co-wrote with Waley Nichols, came as a total surprise, not having seen it before.

If you haven't seen the film, please stop reading here.

Arthur Banks is a hired killer. Arthur is an educated man, who has gone to the other side of the law because he is an impeccable man as far as doing his job well for a lot of money. Don't double cross him though, because he will take care of anyone that dares to do so in a cool and detached manner, as we see him do as the film opens.

When he meets Beenie, we wonder why is he taking a chance on the hitchhiking girl, or for that matter, what makes the girl go with this stranger, who might be a criminal on the loose. How naive can this woman be? Of course, this chance meeting is what is at the heart of the movie, as we shall see later on. In fact, Banks seems to have hand picked Beenie to mold her into his own plan.

In the meantime, we watch as FBI agents are following Banks' trail all over Arizona. They know he is heading south to Mexico, but what is he going to do there? Arthur Banks is planning to take down a Mexican political figure, but things change for him unexpectedly as he prepares to do his thing.

The last sequence is intriguing because it's something unexpected, as we watch how Beenie fools the people that want to talk to her. It appears that Beenie has a friend who has been working with her from within, but will Beenie be able to fool Arthur Banks? Well, your guess is as good as anyone's because the ambiguous ending the cunning director has given his story.

The film works because of Kiefer Sutherland's take on Arthur Banks. This actor always can be counted to deliver in anything he does. Besides his good looks, Mr. Sutherland projects an intelligence as he plays the character he is portraying on the screen, as proved by his many other films.

Melora Walters is also effective as Beenie, an enigmatic figure once we get to see her operate. Jamey Sheridan makes sense of his agent Scanlon, the man pursuing Banks through the desert. Leslie Stefanson's role shows a woman who might not be what she is supposed to be. Rachel Ticotin has a couple of good and hot scenes with Mr. Sutherland.

"Desert Saints" is a film that surprises because the direction by Richard Greenberg.

Pretty good but confusing

[vchimpanzee · 20 November 2006]

At the movie's start, Mr. and Mrs. Pelham (not their real names) are checking into a fancy hotel for their honeymoon.

Then we see the man in the green Nova burying a dead body in the desert, apparently in the American southwest. Well, actually, there's a little more to the scene, but I don't want to give away too much.

The man in the Nova goes to the truck stop where Dora is a waitress to eat, and then he continues on his way after dessert. When he needs gas, he discovers Bennie, who explains that she is going west to start a new life, but her car has broken down and she has no more money to get it fixed. The man gives Bennie a ride, and later she explains that her husband Byron was abusive.

FBI agents Scanlon and Marbury are in search of hit man Arthur Banks. They need evidence that he has actually done something in order to bring him in, and their intention is to get him to testify against those who hired him.

Bennie and her mysterious friend spend the rest of the movie either on the way to do another job in Mexico, or on the run from the FBI. A number of plot twists are introduced to keep things interesting. Still, the movie is hard to follow because we keep seeing flashbacks or scenes that haven't happened yet. That scene with the honeymoon couple is shown two more times, each time with a little more detail. Some of the flashbacks are helpful because they help us understand what is going on in the present.

Kiefer Sutherland does a capable job here, although I suspect he is better in "24" (which I have never seen other than a few clips). I just didn't quite see Emmy quality here.

But it was Melora Walters who really made the movie work for me. Bennie was tough and intelligent but adorable and sometimes funny.

There were several violent scenes, and while some of the results of violence looked quite graphic, the violence itself wasn't that bad. The language had apparently been cleaned up a lot for TV, and there was also some sexual content.

Overall, it was an okay adventure.

Great movie!!!

[mack-68 · 8/10 · 1 February 2006]

This movie was exceptionally good. It's one that you watch, say, hmmm that was pretty good. Then a month later you're trying to figure out why you only rented it because you realize it was a really good movie, definitely even worth seeing again. Rent: Recommended. Buy... you're going to, just give it time. The action is entertaining, the twists are very entertaining, and you really learn to root for kiefer sutherland's character, so at the end you're going to say "oh hell yes!!" just watch it! i was already a kiefer sutherland fan from the lost boys, and this only helped in me liking his acting, very top-notch in this movie. Why haven't you rented it yet?!!!!