The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (****)

Written by Guillermo Arriaga. Directed by Tommy Lee Jones.

A modern day western in which Tommy Lee Jones plays Pete Perkins, a slightly mad cattle rancher whose friend is killed by a over-zealous, cruel border patrol cop. When the local cop, for unknown reasons, refuses to investigate the murder, Pete takes matters into his own hands. It's a movie not so much about revenge or justice, as it is about friendship, honor and redemption. Well acted and directed, although I think that the bond between Pete and the Melquiades Estrada was not as well established as it could have been. Neverthelss, this is superb movie-making that also does a good job showing life on both sides of the border.