Lone Rider (2008) (TV)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Bobby Hattaway	Lou Diamond Phillips	½
Robert Hattaway	Stacy Keach
Stu Croker	Vincent Spano	½
Gus	Timothy Bottoms
Mike Butler	Tom Schanley	½
Constance	Cynthia Preston
Serena Sanchez	Angela Alvarado
Lloyd	Mike Starr	½

Review

Classically told western, made for television, which implies economical cutting and no-nonsense characterizations. The good thing about this is that it results in a tight and industrious direction, the not so good is that the setup feels rushed and it takes some time to start caring for the characters. The film is also populated with quite a bit of one-dimensional individuals, but then again, I guess people were somewhat simpler in the good old days. Lone Rider is much more a reiteration than a rejuvenation of the wester genre, but as written by Frank Sharp, the film has an engaging drive which keeps interest up throughout, and the story is well-told with classic values. In essence, this is a refreshingly simple film in which the good meet the bad and the people in between must search their soul for what's right. The performances are qualified throughout, with Keach and Bottoms giving sensitive turns as two town veterans.