Name: Retro Film Review: Truth or Consequences, N.M. (1997)
Item: Truth or Consequences, N.M.
Rating: 50
Author: @drax

(source:tmdb.org)

In late 1980s and early 1990s Kiefer Sutherland was supposed to become big Hollywood star. Nowadays, he is, just like his father Donald, one of the more dependable character actors in modern Hollywood. In the meantime, he also tried to diversify his career and one of those efforts was his 1997 directorial debut Truth or Consequences, N.M..

Title, borrowed from the name of real-life New Mexico town named after television game show, has actually very little to do with its "crime enterprise going terribly wrong" plot, in many ways similar to those used in low budget films that flooded the market after the success of Pulp Fiction. Protagonist is Raymond Lembecke (played by Vincent Gallo), small-time criminal who preferred spending years behind bars rather to betraying his friend Eddie Grillo (played by John C. McGinley). After release, Raymond faced Eddie's ingratitude and financial pressure, which leads him to enlist his girlfriend Addy (played by Kim Dickens), former cellmate Curtis (played by Kiefer Sutherland) and another small-time criminal Marcus (played by Mykelti Williamson) in his plan to rob Eddie. However, what was supposed to be simple and bloodless theft turns into violent shootout which would claim lives of Eddie and undercover policeman. Raymond and his confederates are pursued by police and organised crime alike and forced to steal RV and take its occupants - Gordon (played by Kevin Pollack) and Donna (played by Grace Phillips) - as hostages. Their plan to fly to safety, however, is doomed from the start.

Brad Mirman's script for this film wasn't too original, but Kiefer Sutherland had more than enough experience in front of camera to use it for his very first effort behind them. The unoriginal plot goes smoothly, cliched situations don't look too insulting to viewers' intelligence and there are even some surprise twists thrown in. This film, however, benefits most from the experienced cast; among it the best is Kevin Pollack in the role of hostage who develops Stockholm Syndrome. In the end, Truth or Consequences, N.M. would give few reasons for Kiefer Sutherland to be proud, but even less reasons to be ashamed of his work.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on December 29th 2003)