Yeah, I'll Remember It

Rating: 7/10 (2 January 2005)

I missed my chance to see 'The Alamo' on the big screen in April 2004 because it tanked so quickly. And while this isn't a grinning endorsement, you might want to rent the DVD and give it a spin. First of all, the disc itself is terrific, from a technical perspective. It looks good (Dean Semler and John O'Connor share the cinematography credit) and sounds great. 'The Alamo' is a solid western about a big-time American failure---and, then later, a success---down in 19th century Texas.
Director John Lee Hancock's version of this story waves its flags and sometimes panders in patriotism, but it isn't dull...which is the ultimate cinematic sin. John Wayne's (very dull) 1960 Oscar-baiter featured himself as Davy Crockett, but this modern telling has Billy Bob Thornton playing the man in the coonskin cap. Thornton is introspective, multi-skilled, courageous, funny...and the best thing in the entire movie. When Davy Crockett leaves the picture, the movie might as well be over.
The main character, actually, is Sam Houston (Dennis Quaid). With a "Remember The Alamo" battle cry, he leads a vengeful charge against the Mexicans that climaxes the film. Other than that, the glowering Quaid is hardly around. Jason Patric has a showy role as Jim Bowie, dying of consumption at the famously over-matched fort, but armed for a fight anyway. Patrick Wilson (as Bowie's rival) and Emilio Echevarria (as Mexico's General Santa Anna) also have major roles.
'The Alamo' is somber. It's different than westerns from 50 or 70 years ago, which were more of the carefree "yee-haw" variety. These days, cowboys always have a sense of gloom & doom. It's a common affliction in modern movies, but at least the whole point of THIS film is that defending the fort was always going to be a tragically futile act. Apart from that, I can't tell you anything else about this legendary story. They seem to have gotten it right.