Lone Star (1996 film)

This article is about the 1996 neo-Western mystery. For the 1952 film about the annexation of Texas, starring Clark Gable and Ava Gardner, see Lone Star (1952 film).

Lone Star
A sheriffs star shaped badge with the image of a skull superimposed
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJohn Sayles
Written byJohn Sayles
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyStuart Dryburgh
Edited byJohn Sayles
Music byMason Daring
Production
company
Distributed bySony Pictures Classics
Release dates
  • March 14, 1996 (1996-03-14) (SXSW)
  • June 21, 1996 (1996-06-21) (United States)
Running time
135 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3–5 million[1][2]
Box office$13 million[2]

Lone Star[3] is a 1996 American neo-Western mystery film written, edited, and directed by John Sayles. Set in a small town in South Texas, the film deals with a sheriff's (played by Chris Cooper) investigation into the murder of one of his predecessors (Kris Kristofferson) decades earlier. The cast also stars Joe Morton, Elizabeth Peña, Clifton James, Ron Canada, Frances McDormand and Matthew McConaughey.

The film premiered at the 1996 South by Southwest Festival and received widespread critical acclaim, with critics regarding it as a high point of 1990s independent cinema as well as one of Sayles' best films. Sayles' screenplay was nominated for an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe Award. The film was also nominated for four Independent Spirit Awards, with Elizabeth Peña winning Best Supporting Female.

Lone Star was recognized by the American Film Institute in AFI's 10 Top 10 list in 2008 as a nominated Western Film.[4]

  1. ^ Molyneaux, Gerry (May 19, 2000). John Sayles: An Unauthorized Biography of the Pioneer Indy Filmmaker. St. Martin's Press. p. 232. ISBN 978-1-58063-125-9.
  2. ^ a b "Lone Star (1996)". The Numbers. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  3. ^ "Interviews with Cast and Director of Lone Star (1996)". Texas Archive of the Moving Image. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).