Dr. Barnabas T. Bynum's New School Musical Revue and Travelling Minstrel Show

I realize this film came out in 2005, but hey, I'm running a little behind, ok? I mean I found the dvd copy underneath a stack of old magazines along with a can of half consumed beer and a very old and moldy peanut butter sandwich. But I'm sure a lot of folks missed this gem of a film when it first came out. It's a film that touches on a number of issues - loyalty, friendship, illegal immigration, justice, and in the end, forgiveness and mercy. Texas and Mexico served as breathtaking scenery for wonderful performances by Tommy Lee Jones, Barry Pepper, January Jones, Dwight Yoakum, and Levon Helm. Helm who teamed up with Jones in "The Coal Miner's Daughter" nearly steals the show with his somewhat comical but ultimately heartwrenching turn as an old blind rancher. Jones who also directed this film based on a story by Guillermo Arriga (21 Grams), takes us on a journey (el viaje) that is at times jarring but definitely worthwhile. A modern day Dante's Inferno. If only all filmmaker's could do that.