Review of Outland (1981) by Jason F — 25 Jul 2008
In this sci-fi remake of the classic western High Noon, Sean Connery plays a Federal Marshall on a mining colony on one of Jupiter's moons. He investigates a series of violent attacks and deaths that are caused by a dangerous drug used by the miners, and tracks the sale of the illegal drug all the way to the mining operations chief, played by Peter Boyle.
It may be set in outer space, but it has a very realistic feel in the way the mining colony is presented. Director Peter Hyams takes the same visual approach he would later use on 2010: The Year We Make Contact.
Everything is very gritty and used looking, right down to the people. Connery is in excellent tough guy form as the marshall who finds himself all alone when his investigation turns up things that no one wants brought to light.
Even his own men turn their backs on him when Boyle recruits assassins from Earth to come and murder him. It's a very clautrophobic movie filled with amazing visuals, plenty of action, and even some major gore when some people are exposed to zero atmosphere.
It also has a tightly written story filled with suspense, mystery, humor, and plenty of tough guy mano-a-mano.
This review of Outland (1981) was written by Jason F on 25 Jul 2008.
Outland has generally received mixed reviews.
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