Highly Overrated But Still Good

Excellent adaptation.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Bad Country, or Whiskey Bay as it was originally titled, is an overlooked tale of pulpy bayou set crime moodiness, with an exceptional cast, and despite being a direct to video, anonymous addition to the stream of films of its ilk that nobody gives a chance because they're not garnering any buzz, it's a really committed, well made flick, and based on a true story as well (how closely, I couldn't tell ya). Willem Dafoe gives zest and enthusiasm, playing Louisiana detective Bud Carter, a roughneck who makes an undercover arrest which leads to Aryan hard ass criminal Jesse Weiland (Matt Dillon), who might just be the key in bringing down an entire crime syndicate based in the area. Dillon, who's been keeping a low profile as of late, is excellent as Weiland, a nasty ex con with a violent streak who's informing for Bud to protect his wife (Amy Smart) and newborn son. Up against him and Bud is psychopathic southern dandy crime lord Lutin Adams (Tom Berenger). Berenger is an old pro and plays Adams to the hilt, giving us an evil Colonel Sanders with an unsettling Cajun accent and simmering nastiness. Neal McDonough is a slimy lawyer, and Bill Duke, and Don Yesso provide solid support. Dafoe and Berenger have a nice Platoon reunion moment in a bloody fistfight. It's a dirty, unglamorous look at the sad life of criminals and the men pursuing them. It's got a bleak, unrelenting tone of misery, but sticks to its guns, follows through with its story and provides solid entertainment.

Some good acting going on here by some favorable actors such as William Defoe, Matt Dillon and Tom BerengerActor and director, Bill Duke also makes an impressive appearance in the movie as head of the FBI.Not really sure if the story is all that impressive.It was just acted impressively by character actors I had not seen in a while, so it heighten my enjoyment.Good thinking on the filmmaker's part if that was the intention.Overall an enjoyable crime drama. if I give credit to the filmmakers about anything, it's that they got some stunning performances out of these guys.

A Heavy Duty Cast of Crusty Hard-Asses make this Worth a Watch. The Film has some Intrigue and Attraction with its Nasty Criminal Underbelly and the Characters are Believably Bad. But what goes Wrong here is some Erratic Storytelling and a Final Shootout that is about as Common as Could Be.Based on a True Story the Neo-Nazi Element is Only Touched on in a Few Throwaway Lines and Tattoos with a Flag off in the Corner as the Camera Passes by. The Turning of the Key Witness is also Awkward at Times and the Criminal Kingpin and His Lawyer/Lobbyists are never quite Fleshed Out to Satisfaction.The Climactic Gun Blazing Confrontation is a Big Easy Letdown with Bad Guys and Good Good Guys just Showing Up and Dropping Dead. Overall an Unsatisfactory True Crime Entry that is Neither Awful or Very Good but Passable.

Matt Dillon seems to be catching a breath here in more than one way. While the movie is being promoted (in some countries) as being a movie by the man behind the Boondock Saints, it is not Troy Duffy that is directing here. It's the directorial debut of one of the producers. But he seems to have learned a few things from Mr. Duffy (hopefully only the good things).Casting Dafoe was great, bringing Matt Dillon as said before also a good choice. The movie itself is not as great as some other police vs. mafia movies we've come to know, but it is more than decent. The movie has some nice action scenes, but lives more of the tension and the suspense it builds up, especially between the characters.