~~ GIVE ME A BREAK ON THE MISSOURI BREAKS ~~

Before I start my review, let it be said..I am not a western kind of girl. And while I love Little House On The Prairie, I don't really get into northwest movies unless Kevin Costner is there. However, I make exceptions for every genre when it comes to my idol, Marlon Brando, who made this movie with his neighbor Jack Nicholson, much to Nicholson's nerves being shot trying to live up to the legend of Brando.

Brando plays Robert Clayton, a hired hand who goes after Nicholson and his mob of horse stealing thugs, who wander around and finally find a farm to nestle in. Tom Logan is Nicholson's character, and he is gritty, wise talking and gun slinging. He is very charming, and throughout the movie you really get confused as to who is the bad guy here. Even with silly Brando in tons of outfit changes and personality changes in his character, you find yourself rooting for both of them. Brando was given free creative flow by the director, which was a smart move, because Brando had fun, and the character, while a hired killer, is amusing, goofy and you can't take your eyes off him!!

This movie has young Randy Quaid, Harry Dean Staton and Sam Gilman as Tom's gang who get offed by Clayton, one by one in brutal and horrifying ways that Tom finds as he goes out to search for them, and their killer. This movie is visually stunning, and Brando reminds me of an older Johnny Cash in his mannerisms, his appearance and the country way about him, even though he uses a horrible Irish accent that just distracted me. I would have rather seen Brando in a southern drawl, which he is good at, but he had insisted that his character be Irish.

The characters are strong, the plot thick, the tension unbearable. It is a true western! There are some shocking death scenes, and there will be times where Brando's cruel pranks will make you laugh out loud, and you will feel guilty, but that is how good the man was!! I caught this on my Comcast On Demand free movies, where you might still be able to catch it, and I suggest you do! Great movie for Sunday, while eating chili!!!

Jack Nicholson held his own next to Brando, and if he was shaking in his boots to be in the same film as Brando, he never let it show. He is as Tough As It Gets. And we can handle the truth!!!!