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When "Kill Bill" met “High Noon"
Arnold Schwarzenegger took a short leave from his Movie career when he was elected governor of California in October 2008, and this is one of the first Movies he made after stepping down in 2011, although during his tenure as governor, which was, in truth, a rather negligible phase in his resume, he managed to squeeze in some cameo on screen appearances - see "The Expendables".
This is a good old fashioned action Movie, in which an elderly combat veteran Sheriff (Schwarzenegger) in a small remote town, where the worst disaster that happens is rescuing a cat stuck on a tree, is informed one day that a most violent, dangerous and psychopathic killer has escaped from prison and is on his way to the town. The sheriff decides to defend his town and stop the killer at all costs, with only a small group of local misfits by his side…
The suspense in there, and it is very real, there is no shortage of humor (a nice little old lady tells you that you are trespassing? Beware! Did you park your car next to a fire hydrant after being warned not to do so? Face the consequences!) And if they only reduced the level of graphic violence and blood, it might have been possible to get closer to the qualities of "High Noon", without losing the Tarantino pace and style.
All in all, definitely a nice surprise, well paced, a great performance by Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker does an excellent job as the arrogant FBI agent who heads the manhunt after the fugitive and learns a lesson in law enforcement and humility from the ”Country Sheriff”.
Incidentally, although within the exchange of banters between Schwarzenegger and his best friend the Stallone, in at least two Movies ("The Expendables" and “Demolition Man”) his name is mentioned in connection with the presidential race, according to current U.S law, he is prevented from applying for this highest office.
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