Jim Beaver Movies

Madeleine Stowe, Mary Stuart Masterson, Andie MacDowell, and Drew Barrymore are the stars of this Western whose main gimmick is making heroes into heroines. They all start out as prostitutes, as Cody (Stowe) shoots a drunken colonel who attempts to molest Anita (Masterson). She is about to be lynched for defending her friend when the other "bad girls" ride in and rescue her, pursued by detectives. The rest of the film follows their adventures as they get caught up in hostage situations, bank robberies, shootouts, and romantic interludes with handsome young cowboys with never a hair out of place or an unsightly smudge of Western dust. Amazingly, all four former prostitutes are able to ride, shoot, rope, and fight as well. Bad Girls is not likely to be thought of as a realistic view of how women lived in the Old West. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide

Forget Gunsmoke and Bonanza. The HBO series Deadwood was as close to the "real thing" as any Western fan was ever going to see on television -- and in its pursuit of reality, the series was not afraid of smashing icons or skewering sacred cows. Could anything less be expected of executive producer David Milch (NYPD Blue)? The series began its story in 1876, two weeks after Custer's demise at the Little Big Horn, and in the midst of "gold fever" brought about by a major ore strike in the Black Hills of Dakota Territory. Into the wide-open and illegal settlement of Deadwood rode a terrifying variety of hard-bitten men and hard-living women. Keith Carradine headed the cast (at least in the early episodes) as gunfighter and Indian scout Wild Bill Hickok -- not the clean-cut hero of movie and TV fame, but an embittered, disillusioned, cold-hearted killer who trusted no one, least of all himself. Traveling to Deadwood with old friend Charlie Utter (Dayton Callie) and devoted, foul-mouthed sidekick Calamity Jane (Robin Weigert), Hickok quickly met and befriended former lawman Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant), the archetypal man with a past who held out hope (but not much) that Deadwood would permit him a new start in life. The destinies of both Hickok and Bullock were gradually intertwined with that of self-styled town boss Al Swearengen (Ian McShane), the manipulative, cheerfully decadent owner of Deadwood's biggest "saloon," the Gem. Several major and minor characters passed through Deadwood, some for a long time, some only as long as it took to be shot down in the street. One of the more fascinating peripheral characters was gimlet-eyed cardsharp Eddie Sawyer, well played by real-life magician and master card manipulator Ricky Jay. Festooned with sex, sadism, sudden death, rampant profanity, and mud, mud, mud, Deadwood was not your father's "cowboy" show. The series drew huge ratings and enthusiastic critical plaudits from the moment it made its first appearance on March 21, 2004 -- and within a few weeks of this debut, all audience expectations were dashed to bits when one of the series' "stars" paid homage to historical accuracy by being abruptly killed off. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Al (Ian McShane) regains consciousness, but he's in bad shape. Alma (Molly Parker) learns that she's pregnant, and, feeling that Doc (Brad Dourif) has been judgmental with her, she turns to Trixie (Paula Malcomson). Alma explains that she wants children of her own, but she has a physical deformity that could endanger her life if she tried to bear a child. Trixie later upbraids Doc about his attitude, and urges him to see Alma. Samuel Fields (Franklyn Ajaye), who calls himself the "Nigger General," arrives in camp to return a horse to Hostetler (Richard Gant), and befriends Jane (Robin Weigert) over an afternoon drink. Miss Isringhausen (Sarah Paulson) tells Silas (Titus Welliver) that she fears Alma. She claims that Alma admitted to killing her husband, and named Al as her instrument. When she then asks to meet Al, Silas moans, "Why do I feel lucky we didn't meet across a poker table?" Doris (Erica Swanson) reports to Cy (Powers Boothe), who is intrigued to learn of Wolcott's (Garret Dillahunt) disturbing activities at the Chez Amis. Jarry (Stephen Tobolowsky) gives Merrick (Jeffrey Jones) a notice about the validity of the camp's gold claims to print on the front page of the paper. Merrick, recognizing that the notice will only foster more confusion about the claims (as per Jarry's intentions), decides to dissociate his paper from the notice by simply posting it outside his office. The posting gets a number of claim holders riled up. Cy stops by and offers to buy their claims, but they're more interested in seeking revenge upon the author of the statement, Jarry. Led by Steve the Drunk (Michael Harney), the mob goes after Jarry, and when Seth (Timothy Olyphant) protects the commissioner, they turn their attention elsewhere. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Magistrate Claggett (Marshall Bell) arrives in Deadwood from Yankton to speak with Al (Ian McShane) about the government's plans for the camp. Claggett tells Al that it could work out so that a citizen can have title to any land by simple usage, and suggests that some sort of ad hoc government in the town might help their cause. Al just wants to know who to bribe, and how much, and Claggett gives him a list, adding that a warrant's reached Yankton charging Al with a murder in Chicago. Claggett is willing to quash the warrant for a price. And so, Al gathers the camps leaders at the Gem to appoint government positions, and determine how funds will be raised to pay the bribes. E.B. (William Sanderson) nominates himself for mayor, while Seth raises his hand for health commissioner (to avoid being chosen for sheriff), and Charlie (Dayton Callie), who's just opened up his freight and delivery service, ends up the fire commissioner. Sol (John Hawkes) also makes note that Trixie (Paula Malcolmson) has returned to the Gem, and goes back there to see her later. Eddie (Ricky Jay) and Joanie (Kim Dickens) are both upset with Cy (Powers Boothe) over how he dealt with Flora and Miles. Joanie makes plans to open her own brothel in town, with Cy's backing. While looking for a place, she runs into Charlie, who is also nervous about his new business. Smith's (Ray McKinnon) health continues to deteriorate, and he finally goes to see the doc (Brad Dourif). Seth tells Alma (Molly Parker) about his family. Jane (Robin Weigert), inebriated, rejects Charlie's job offer, and expresses a desire to leave the camp. "I will not be a drunk where he's buried," she tells Charlie, "and I cannot stay f*cking sober." ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

"Welcome to Deadwood...a hell of a place to make your fortune." These are the words that serve as greeting for saddle-weary former lawman Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) as he rides into the illegal Dakota Territory settlement of Deadwood, a scant few weeks after Custer's defeat at the Little Big Horn. Before long, Bullock makes the acquaintance of another displaced Westerner, the cynical, burnt-out gunslinger Wild Bill Hickok (Keith Carradine) -- and not long after that, both men have had their first run-in with town boss Al Swearengen (Ian McShane), the confident, corrupt owner of the Gem Saloon (an establishment largely populated by flint-hearted whores). Thus begins season one of the iconoclastic HBO Western series Deadwood, arguably the most realistic program of its kind ever seen on American television. In the 11 episodes that follow the season opener, a group of vicious outlaws tries to foment another Indian war; Swearengen's status as the lord of the flies on the Deadwood dungheap is challenged by a Chicago "syndicate" (yes, they had them as far back as 1876); a valuable land claim held by feisty, wealthy frontierswoman Alma Garret (Molly Parker) becomes the focus of a deadly serious power struggle; the notorious Black Jack McCall (Garret Dillahunt) kills Hickok during a poker game (quite a jolt, to knock off one of the series' main characters so early in the game!); Deadwood is ravaged by an epidemic, during which the rambunctious but compassionate Calamity Jane (Robin Weigert) becomes a legend; Bullock is marked for death after bringing a murderer to heel; Swearengen is double-crossed by duplicitous "working girl" Trixie (Paula Malcomson); the town's criminal element tries to block annexation of the Dakotas, which would bring much-despised law and order to the territory; a minister finds himself less welcome in town than an opium dealer; and at season's end, Seth Bullock becomes Deadwood's official sheriff -- a position that offers neither job security nor much chance for survival. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As Smith's (Ray McKinnon) health continues to deteriorate, Doc Cochran (Brad Dourif) goes to Al (Ian McShane) for help. Doc also delivers a new boot to Jewel (Geri Jewell). Claggett (Marshall Bell) arrives back in camp, accompanied by General Crook (Peter Coyote) and a cavalry division. Claggett claims that he never made it back to Yankton, depriving Silas (Titus Welliver) of a chance to murder him on Al's behalf. Al tells Claggett that he's not getting any more money for the murder warrant. Claggett accuses him of "failure to value your freedom in the promising days ahead," to which Al ripostes, inimitably, "Maybe you don't value keeping your guts inside your belly enough." Still, Al is hesitant to act against Claggett with the military in camp. Leon (Larry Cedar) and sheriff Con Stapleton (Peter Jason) are involved in the suspicious killing of a Chinese laundryman. When Otis (William Russ) attempts to blackmail Alma (Molly Parker) for a continuing interest in her gold claim, she reluctantly turns to Seth (Timothy Olyphant) for help. After a somewhat heated encounter with Otis, Seth decides to involve Dan (W. Earl Brown) and Al in the increasingly ugly matter. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Based on true incidents, this movie follows the plight of a young American girl who travels to Japan to start work as a club singer, only to discover that she has been tricked into working as a prostitute for the Yakuza. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide

In the made-for-cable El Diablo, Anthony Edwards plays a bespectacled Eastern schoolteacher who is bullied and cowed by the wild westerners all around him. Soon, however, he is forced to summon up his courage to expedite the rescue of his prettiest female student (M.C. Gainey), who has been kidnapped by the notorious bandit leader El Diablo (Robert Beltran). Louis Gossett Jr. is on hand as the down-to-earth gunslinger who teaches Edwards the rudiments of frontier survival. Coproduced and cowritten by John Carpenter, El Diablo debuted July 22, 1990, over the HBO pay-cable service. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Walter Hill directs John Milius's script (co-written by Larry Gross) depicting a revisionist perspective on the "Geronimo Campaign" and how Geronimo, with 34 men, managed to elude 5000 U.S. cavalry men between 1885 and 1886 before his surrender at the Canyon of the Skeletons in September 1886. The film centers upon Charles Gatewood (Jason Patric), the U.S. Cavalry lieutenant who is charged with capturing the elusive Apache leader. Gatewood is torn by a grudging respect for Geronimo and his people and his duty to his country. But then all the white men in the film have a respect for Geronimo, even as they are trying to hunt him down and kill him. General Charles Crook (Gene Hackman), charged with overseeing the forced settlement of the Apaches on reservations, has nothing but admiration for Geronimo. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

When retired lawman Matt Dillon takes off hunting for some stolen cattle, he and his daughter discover a vigilante gang and get involved in one of the bloodiest and most deadly feuds in the history of the West. Gunsmoke fans will not be disappointed by this James Arness outing. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide

This satirical look at the ambivalent relationship between Hollywood power brokers and African-American performers marked the writing, producing, and directing debut of Robert Townsend. The filmmaker also stars as Bobby Taylor, a struggling actor looking for his big break despite his family's and co-workers' reservations about his chosen career path. While working a day job flipping burgers, Bobby heads out to insulting cattle calls where white casting agents pass judgement on whether he seems "black enough." Meanwhile, he imagines himself playing Sam Spade, Rambo, and other movie heroes rather than the stereotypical roles actually available to him. When Bobby actually does win one such pimp-daddy part, however, he is forced to choose between accepting work that opens doors, but ultimately demeans him and returning to obscurity with his principles intact. Hollywood Shuffle's enormous supporting cast includes a wealth of black actors, from then-unknowns such as Damon Wayans to veterans such as 227 star Helen Martin. Self-financed and filmed on scraps of hand-me-down celluloid, the film helped establish actor Townsend as a director of note and also kick-started the career of co-screenwriter and co-star Keenen Ivory Wayans, who would cast Townsend in his own directorial debut the following year. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide