Firstly, the cast is sublime. James Garner, always a vastly underrated actor creates a stoic, yet tragic Call.His final scene (don't worry I won't give it all away)is at once heart breaking and filled with a quiet hope. His performance is all about what film acting aspires: he moves mountains without words. The rest of the cast is on equal footing with Garner (who deserved at least something of an Emmy nod) Playwright Sam Shepard's Pea Eye, although losing much of Tim Scott's Bentonesque forlorn rube, is filled with earthy heroism and poetry. Sissy Spacek as the whore re-encarnated as a schoolmarm Lorena produces the tough backbone needed to survive the Texas prairie. Comedian George Carlin's finely drawn panhandle scamp solidifies the theory that the border between comedy and tragedy is narrow at best. These are just a few of the excellent standouts in a sound ensemble.
Secondly is the very narrative itself. It plays like a Sunday funeral dirge- ever aware of the passing of an era, yet peering on into a glimmering future of optimism and hope. In McMurtry's world everyone has a shot at redemption. Grace isn't free but it is availble to all willing to run the gauntlet who have at least a pure heart. The evil villians are evil and deserving of damnation and the good, although pure of heart are not pure of deed.
This film is already mostly forgotten by the minions,but richly deserving of an audience. Enjoy and savor.
The strength of "Streets of Laredo" is the straight foward story of a killer and train robber, Joey Garza,and the bounty hunter sent to hunt him down, Captain Woodrow Call. Pretty standard western fare; but fairly well-done. It's not the epic "Lonesome Dove" was or what "Return to Lonesome Dove" and "Dead Man's Walk" tried to be; and that helps ease the comparisons with the original. I also believe that James Garner did a very good job as Captain Call. He had the almost impossible job of trying to take on a role that Tommy Lee Jones made his own in the original which was something Jon Voight had already failed miserably at trying. Garner, though, comes very close to challenging Tommy Lee for the honor of the "definitive" Call. He is very good.
Sam Sheppard is ok as Pea-Eye.(In the books Pea-Eye is younger than Call- the original film had the older Tim Scott in the role.) Sissy Spacek is not my idea of Lorena.(Would you travel from counties away to visit Sissy? Diane Lane- yes. Sissy- no.) Ned Beatty and Randy Quaid add some nice color as Judge Roy Bean and John Wesely Hardin respectively. Joey Garza is no Blue Duck; but still a pretty ruthless villain and formidable opponent. The Mox-Mox storyline,though, seemed slapped together and contrived.
As a stand-alone western "Streets of Laredo" is decent. As a sequel to "Lonesome Dove" it falls far short of the formidable bar that film raised. It is, however, the best of the attempts to recapture the magic of the original.
