4 stars (out of 5)
Director: Kevin Smith
Cast: Michael Parks, John Goodman, Michael Angarano, Kerry Bishe, Nicholas Braun, Kyle Gallner.
Rating: (M)
Apparently, Quentin Tarantino is a fan of Red State, an endorsement that's not surprising, once you've seen the film. Written by Kevin Smith, Red State is a smart black comedy targeting right-wing Christian bigots.
When three teenage boys hatch a sexual liaison with an online acquaintance, the film feels like it could be a natural successor to Clerks or Mallrats, but that's about as close as the comparisons get. Before the excitable lotharios have disrobed, they are taken hostage by a small band of Christian bigots led by a very sinister pastor.
Michael Parks is a gem as Abin Cooper, the ageing preacher all fired up on his bigoted beliefs, conducting his small flock of dedicated haters to rise up against homosexuals, fornicators and anyone else who doesn't meet their exacting expectations. The over-cooked idiocy would be easy to laugh off if it weren't for the trigger that Smith pulls next.
When law enforcement surrounds the compound and a mighty cache of weapons is revealed, chances of the stand-off ending nicely are about as likely as Cooper opening his door to African-Americans. Leading the federal agents sent to tackle Cooper is special agent Keenan. He is played by a svelte-looking John Goodman harking back to Walter from The Big Lebowski, and the ensuing confrontation is full-noise.
Best thing: A trimmed-down John Goodman, still packing a mighty wallop of well-executed comedic timing.
Worst thing: The reality that fundamentalist wackos don't exist just in the movies.
See it with: No expectations for a happy-ever-after ending.
- Mark Orton
