Willem Dafoe plays Ray Dolezal, a small town deputy sheriff who is alerted to the presence of a dead body out in the middle of nowhere. In his dedicated efforts to finding out who the man is, and who killed him, he digs himself a BIG hole getting involved in a delicate undercover operation, working to expose Gorman Lennox (Mickey Rourke), an amiably shady character whose pursuits include weapons smuggling.
Although "White Sands" is not particularly exceptional, it provides very watchable entertainment - thanks to a talented cast and director (Roger Donaldson of such efforts as "No Way Out" and "Species"). The plot is ultimately pretty convoluted, but it has some good dialogue, especially between Ray and Lane Bodine (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio). Other than the relationship between these two characters, the most interesting thing about the movie is the setting for the finale: the title location, a national park in New Mexico with lots of glistening dunes.
The enticing, appealing Mastrantonio has the best role in the story (and she gives one of the best performances) as a high-society type choosing to live life on the edge by getting involved with people like Rourke. Rourke has an enjoyable amount of confidence & charisma here, Samuel L. Jackson is his usual solid self as a Federal agent, M. Emmet Walsh gets to have some fun as a colorful coroner, and other familiar and reliable actors such as James Rebhorn, Maura Tierney, Beth Grant, Miguel Sandoval, John Lafayette, Jack Kehler, and Royce D. Applegate also turn up. Appearing uncredited are Mimi Rogers as Ray's wife, and top character actors John P. Ryan and Fred Dalton Thompson as gun runners.
A striking music score by Patrick O'Hearn, and stylish photography by Peter Menzies Jr. (who was both the cinematographer and main camera operator) help to make this pretty entertaining if also pretty forgettable.
Six out of 10.
Although "White Sands" is not particularly exceptional, it provides very watchable entertainment - thanks to a talented cast and director (Roger Donaldson of such efforts as "No Way Out" and "Species"). The plot is ultimately pretty convoluted, but it has some good dialogue, especially between Ray and Lane Bodine (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio). Other than the relationship between these two characters, the most interesting thing about the movie is the setting for the finale: the title location, a national park in New Mexico with lots of glistening dunes.
The enticing, appealing Mastrantonio has the best role in the story (and she gives one of the best performances) as a high-society type choosing to live life on the edge by getting involved with people like Rourke. Rourke has an enjoyable amount of confidence & charisma here, Samuel L. Jackson is his usual solid self as a Federal agent, M. Emmet Walsh gets to have some fun as a colorful coroner, and other familiar and reliable actors such as James Rebhorn, Maura Tierney, Beth Grant, Miguel Sandoval, John Lafayette, Jack Kehler, and Royce D. Applegate also turn up. Appearing uncredited are Mimi Rogers as Ray's wife, and top character actors John P. Ryan and Fred Dalton Thompson as gun runners.
A striking music score by Patrick O'Hearn, and stylish photography by Peter Menzies Jr. (who was both the cinematographer and main camera operator) help to make this pretty entertaining if also pretty forgettable.
Six out of 10.