No matter how long I’ve lived in Durango, it’s always a thrill to see the town portrayed in movies or on TV, or even to hear it mentioned on the radio.
Which is part of the reason the new movie “Gone are the Days” is so cool. Set in Old West Durango in the early 1900s, it’s the story of an old man who, facing the end of his days, is determined to go out in a blaze of glory, but instead finds redemption.
Notorious outlaw Taylon Flynn (played by Lance Henriksen) wants to get off his run-down ranch where he lives alone with the ghosts of his family and pull one last robbery before he dies. Flynn’s death is fairly imminent, as evidenced by the body-racking coughs he suffers. Accompanied by his old friend Virgil (Billy Lush), Flynn heads on horseback to Durango, burning down his ranch before he goes.
On the way to Durango, he stops at Hesperus to leave money for his daughter Heidi (Meg Steedle), who doesn’t know she’s his daughter. When Flynn finds out she’s working as a prostitute for the sleazy Jaden (Steve Railsback), the whole scope of his journey changes. Now, all he wants to do is save his daughter.
The film boasts a pretty impressive cast that includes Henriksen, Tom Berenger and Danny Trejo. The story, written by Greg Tucker, who grew up in Farmington and served as San Juan County district attorney from 2000 to 2004, is a slow burn that pulls you in and holds you straight through the final scene.
Director Mark Gould, who also grew up in Farmington, gives us a movie that is beautifully shot and captures the essence of the area, even though it was filmed in California.
“Gone are the Days” will open Friday in Durango for a limited run of one week.
katie@durangoherald.com
Gone are the Days
(Playing at Stadium 9)
Rating:
R
Genre:
Western
Directed by:
Mark Landre Gould
Written by:
Gregory M. Tucker
Runtime:
1 hr. 39 min.
