Customer Reviews

Rancho Deluxe

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Great movie! For those who have seen the influx of the rich and famous into western Montana will love the spoof on the cattle rancher from NY. Jeff Bridges, Sam Waterston, and Slim Pickins are awesome! Plus, you can't beat Jimmy Buffet, mid-70's hair and mustache, playing Livingston Saturday night in Livingston!!

I'm one of the people who has seen this movie numerous times and loves it. I first watched it with a friend who grew up around the Crazy Mts and knew exactly what was being shown. I guess if you don't know the rural west and have no sense of humor beyond the Adam Sandler fart joke level this will not be a movie for you but if you appreciate nuanced acting, great locations and a natural story flow you will enjoy it.

Not your typical Hollywood movie. Very funny, with a drier sence of humor. Jimmy Bufett music from begining to end, not to mention an appearance mid-way through; what a high light! Bridges was great as usual, playing a confident, young cattle thief. Wouldn't he play a great Joe Merchant? I recomend this as a "get together with the guys" show! You'll love it!

"Rancho Deluxe" easily ranks among my top 10 films of all time. In addition to great actors, and wickedly funny lines, there's some really biting satire in the film about the modern west. One of the really great things about it is that its theme of the old and new west colliding is echoed in the ensemble of actors from earlier generations (eg Slim Pickens) alongside newer actors (eg Bridges and Waterston). I don't generally dig on movies made or set in the 70's, but I'm really impressed with how well "Rancho Deluxe" holds up.

This film is pure McGuane with its typical brilliant dialogue, whacky sex, sense of manners in the face of desperation, and cynical modern take on the Code of the West. By far the stand-out performance in Rancho Deluxe is by the brilliant late character actor Slim Pickens as the stock detective hired to track down the rustlers. The scenes he has with his daughter, played by Charlene Dallas are just terrific. Slim pratically stole Blazing Saddles and he completely steals this film because he is the perfect McGuane character, a combination of gristly, amazingly experienced cowboy, and endearing, strange personality that like so many characters literally keeps you guessing right up to the end whether or not he is completely out of his mind. This movie is pure fun, and even has a message about the West and its modernization. It's also a romantic film in more ways than one. Waterston as Bridges' Native American friend has a very good scene with the character's father, who is trying to be proud, but suspects his son is up to no good. I never get tired of this movie. Every second Pickens is on the screen you have a very large smile on your face. This is McGuane's screenwriting at its most heartfelt, and it pretty much could have been a novel if he had so chosen. Cinefiles agree it's a cult classic comedy western, and it is probably the best representation on film of McGuane's ideas, feelings, and dialogue prowess.

How can I describe this movie in a nut shell? Odd and dated but with a very good heart- and dry dry dry!

It is a pseudo-western, featuring actors who would now be too "good" for a small cultish movie like this one. Can you picture a Law & Order T.V. star in this?? This could be viewed as a great piece of 70's era B movie making with slumming A list actors. Or how about one of Jimmy Buffet's first appearances in popular culture- a must see for parrot heads!

Listen for the one liners from Cecil (Sam Waterson), they could definately enter into your movie quote lexicon. Also, if you know any cowboys, watch it with them and check out their reaction to Cecil's Father's monolouge about the disease of "pickup truck debt" for which there is still "no cure in sight".

Not likley to please everyone, this movie is for people with a twisted sense of humor but if you like stuff like Space Ghost you will love.

1. It's incredibly well written and very, very funny (Tom McGuane scripts); 2. It's got some of the best ensemble acting and best one-liners of its time; 3. During the course of the film, no one dies or is shot or knifed or choked or run over (we do see a couple of steers go down tho); 4. Warren Oates is playing harmonica in Jimmy Buffett's band at The Wrangler bar; 5. A "Pong" machine is featured in the story; 6. Wonderfully photographed by William Fraker who really shows off the Livingston area of Montana's Big Sky; 7. Only film to feature breakfast and bathing at Chico Hot Springs. If you don't like this film you have no sense of humor and you should reconsider your place on earth.

I saw this in the theatre when it was first released in 1974. Years later I thought I was the only one whe remembered it. In 1983, I saw it was playing at the Circle Theatre in Washington, DC. Was overwhelmed to see the theatre SOLD OUT with other fans. This is a true cult classic, in the same vein as Harold and Maude. I watch it at least once a year, as it sets a real fine mood that carries with me for awhile. The soundtrack is some great buffett that can only be heard here. If you don't get it...tough!

This film is a cult classic and thank God it's out on DVD with understandable dialog. I suffered through many years catching it solely on late night TV which for some reason always had horrible sound. This movie works on many levels and the Jeff Bridges-Sam Waterson pairing makes it a great "buddy" movie. Watch for Slim Pickens's impromptu autopsy of the dead cow - there are several terrifically funny lines that will have you rolling on the floor. A fabulous cast also includes Harry Dean Stanton in one of his classic roles. The film has **great** Jimmy Buffet tunes from his "Montana" period. The film captures the beauty of Livingston Montana and surroundings.

Two of the most likeable and enduring actors of the 1970's, Jeff Bridges and Sam Waterston, teamed up for this 1975 gem. They play a pair of modern day, small-time cattle rustlers. The film is mostly a comedy and mostly a character study, although the plot is quite funny also. The rancher from whom they rustle cattle is quite befuddled and hires Slim Pickens to solve the case. This is the kind of overlooked 1970's movie that has become a bit of a cult classic but deserves greater recognition.

Bridges and Waterston also had roles in the disaster "Heaven's Gate," but fans of the actors would be much better off checking out "Rancho Deluxe." Fans of Jimmy Buffet should appreciate his music in the film; he also appears as a singer in a bar scene. This film is also the last good one from director Frank Perry. Before this movie, he directed "David and Lisa," "The Swimmer," and "Last Summer." He later bombed with duds such as "Hello Again" and "Mommie Dearest." A very good, enjoyable movie that 70's film buffs should check out.