dominickdesid Cut Bank is a little guy, little money film with great depth of character which beats out big Hollywood mafia on all battle fronts. It's a basic entertainment success in my estimation which can hopefully be replicated in this media war. It's a short honest 93 minute film that's safe to be alone in the dark with from first frame to last credit. Sure it's an under-appreciated little seriocomedy, thriller and love story, but it's also a film gem. Well Directed by Matt Shakman, but with a big performances from a great cast of actors across-the-board, with an impressive, and excellent standout performance by Michael Stuhlbarg. Correct reality Casting by Candice Elzinga and Rhonda Fisekci was near freak free perfect. Which if comes up short anywhere in its miserly budget, it's only weak link is in the quality of the Cinematographic Process, but it's not bad at all and appealing to view. Music by James Newton Howard sound score sets the pace nicely throughout, and end credits with Hank Williams Jr. singing the fitting "Cut Bank, Montana" soliloquy. Though it's only a film, and not real classic theater, this is not a one night stand, It's a film which will get better every time you see it for short basic entertainment over the years, so turns off the lights and enjoy…It's certainly a much better film than a thoroughly zero loser crap nonsense of "Fargo" and the see only it once and throw it away quickly , grossly sick degenerate, and highly overrated, The Shawshank Redemption (1994).

robertmike57 The actors who have been in Coen Brothers movies: John Malkovich and Michael Stuhlbarg. The actors who have been in the television version of Fargo: Billy Bob Thornton and Oliver Platt. Other Fargo Take offs: The Peguin town statute of Cut Bank is done in the same kitsch of the Lumberjack statute. John Malkovich's Sheriff Vogel character is every bit Frances McDormand's Marge Gunderson, yet just marginally competent. David Burke's Native American Match is the same character (plus being the mute Indian from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) as Steve Reevis Shep Proudfoot.The plot of Cut Bank has the same theme of Fargo: a half baked criminal conspiracy to get a large sum of money in a small town where things go awry. Where things went wrong is a parcel was not delivered to the town hermit, Derby Milton, told by several people "I thought you were dead". Derby Milton proves to be a better crime investigator than the sheriff with a meek underwhelming smallish appearance, a bad stutter, pop bottle glasses with overpowering fighting abilities revealed to those who underestimated him. A quite bizarre and unique character.The protagonists are Teresa Palmer, who is excellent as the gal wanting to get out of the small town, and Liam Helmsworth, as your boy next door who resorts to crime. Where the movie falls short is in story telling. The reviewers critical of Helmsworth acting overlook that he's supposed to be a good guy when he's not much better than William Macy's Jerry Lundegaard Fargo character. That flaw takes this movie to the level of very good and not great, so I recommend Cut Bank.

Gino Cox "Cut Bank" is a moody noir mystery/thriller that deserves much better reviews than the middling critiques it has received. It is evocative of Coen brothers films like "Fargo," "Blood Simple" and "The Ladykillers," but manages to be original and unpredictable. Performances by the top-notch cast are low-key, but credible. The atmosphere is suitably dreary, desolate and depressing. Technical aspects are adequate, if not inspired. The denouement is emotionally satisfying if one puts ones brain on hold and ignores everything one knows about forensic science. The film offers a flimsy rationale based on the small town setting, but it still tests the limits of the audience's willful suspension of disbelief. However, other events are well-grounded. The motives and capabilities of the villain are a bit over the top, but not so much as to distract. Overall it is an engaging and original noir film with excellent performances by a talented cast.

ptlcan-18906 I thought this reminded me a bit of Fargo but my more observant companion correctly and more accurately though it was a bit of a tribute to Blood Simple. If the movie had a weakness it was that Liam Hemsworth seemed a bit flat or lost compared to the others. The story was good, few puzzles still remain unexplained regarding the background of Derby Milton, the character whose singular unravels the plans of the main character and unleashes chaos. The women all play peripheral roles and more or less stand around and look worried.The story felt fresh and although there was a resolution of sorts it was not too cliché.