USA Film Fest - ‘The Whole Shootin’ Match’

Written, directed, shot, and edited by legendary Texan filmmaker Eagle Pennell on a shoestring budget in and around Austin 30 years ago, The Whole Shootin’ Match became a Little Indie That Could, praised by Roger Ebert and Vincent Canby, inspiring a generation of Texas filmmakers, and motivating Robert Redford to create the Sundance Institute. Shot in black-and-white 16mm in an almost cinema-vérité style, it follows the tragicomic misadventures of Lloyd (Lou Perryman) and Frank (Sonny Davis), a pair of dreamers and schemers who are constantly broke and always on the lookout for that fabled brass ring. The entire supporting cast is terrific (particularly Doris Hargrave and Eric Henshaw) in this charming and nuanced film, made all the more so by its rough edges. Our friend Roger Ebert gave the film three stars upon its initial release; today, he says he’d give it four. See it again, or for the first time, and see why he’s right. 109mins.

Information from the festival's website