The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005, USA)

Tommy Lee Jones' obvious love for his home state of Texas is apparent in every aspect of The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. Jones plays Pete, a ranch hand whose friendship with the titular cowboy takes a dark turn when Melquiades is killed by an overzealous border patrol agent, Mike Norton (Barry Pepper). From there, Pete feels a responsibility to take Melquiades home to be buried, and to simultaneously exact justice for his death.

Three Burials touches on some of the same themes as writer Guillermo Arriaga's other films, like 21 Grams and Amores Perros (connectivity, forgiveness), and shares an episodic sensibility as well, but lacks the conceptual distance of his films with Inarritu. Perhaps Jones is to praise for that. He certainly directs himself with a complete lack of vanity - the closest comparison that comes to mind are the films of Clint Eastwood. (Though I sure would have hated to be Barry Pepper on this shoot.)

However, perhaps the best part of the film, apart from the gorgeous cinematography and the excellent performances, are how all of the little stories work in aid of the film, how the characters interact with one another and create connections. It's all of the small details, too, the ones I attribute to Jones - the night football game, the dance in the motel room, the old man living by the border. It looks as if Jones has no immediate plans to direct again any time soon, but I sure wish he'd find a project that interests him. I hear he owns the rights to Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian, but (unfortunately) it looks as if Ridley Scott is currently attached to direct.