Leonard Maltin's Online Hidden Gem
Posted 06.27.08 by reelz
Leonard Maltin Says:
We recently devoted an entire episode of Secret’s Out to the Western movie genre. One of its strongest proponents over the last twenty years has been Tom Selleck. I’m especially fond of Quigley Down Under, which has all the earmarks of a traditional Western, except for one thing: it takes place in Australia.
Selleck plays an American gunman hired by a power-hungry rancher (Alan Rickman) to come to Australia and shoot the wild dingoes roaming his property. Upon arrival, Selleck quickly learns that he’s actually been hired to shoot the Aborigines who trespass on Rickman’s land. Selleck walks away from the job, but Rickman won’t stand for this, and marks him for death. The characters are well-drawn, the scenery is great, and the film is thoroughly entertaining.