The best part about being a theater addict is that if you indulge enough you’ll see things you’ve never seen before. For instance, I had never seen a bad Harvey Keitel performance. I didn’t think that was possible. And yet, here it is – as the vengeful border sheriff or Two Men in Town, Harvey Keitel is just bad, not quite striking the right note with either ex-con William Garnett (Forest Whitaker) or his parole officer, Emily (Brenda Blethyn).
Garnett killed a deputy two decades ago. In the unchanging small town, Bill Agati (Keitel) was sheriff then and remains sheriff now. And he ain’t pleased about Garrett’s parole three years early. But that assumes that he’d be happy with Garnett serving a full sentence, and that’s not the character as presented. Agati doesn’t seem happy with Garnett anywhere but in a box. And he goes out of his way to make Garnett uncomfortable at a diner and at the house of Garnett’s new girlfriend, Teresa (Dolores Heredia).
Yeah, William works fast, don’t he? Directly from prison, he successfully hits on the bank officer who gives him his checking account. Personally, I think hitting on somebody at her place of work is a no-no. I don’t think there should be exceptions made for ex-cons, but without charming Teresa, William has nothing to lose. The story only works if William has to choose between controlling his temper 
and keeping things he suddenly holds dear – these things it took him what? Two whole days of freedom to acquire.
William’s angel is Emily, who wants to see the best in him and even goes toe-to-toe in some very awkward scenes with the sheriff. The devil on the other shoulder is former crime partner Terence (Luis Guzmán). Sometimes Guzmán is just who you need and sometimes … well, Terence is the worst heavy in recent memory. I mean, Jeez, first off you named your heavy “Terence?” I feel like so much of Two Men in Town is made up of “well, that could have and should have ended the movie right there.” Like when William trashes the TV of a fellow halfway houser – hey, parole violation, welcome back to prison. Or when Sheriff Agati catches William visiting Terence’s compound. We know Terence has gone for innocent reasons, but, hey parole violation. What’s your move, Sheriff? “Let it go.” You’re kidding me, right? The guy who gets his jollies spoiling Garnett’s dinner, getting him fired, and generally acting as a personal cockblocker … “let it go?”
Thanks, Elsa. Thanks, movie. This town ain’t big enough for a second viewing; that’s fer darn sher.
♪Don’t come around here no more
Don’t come around here no more
I know what you were in for
I loathe you to my core
Not giving up, no
Not giving up on harassing a little longer
Not giving up don’t care if I am wronger
I don’t feel this any more
This character’s a boor
Whatever I was looking for
Hey! The rest seems like a chore
No coming round here no more
Don’t know who this picture’s for
My butt is kinda sore
There’s better film right next door♫
Rated R, 120 Minutes
D: Rachid Bouchareb
W: Rachid Bouchareb
Genre: The joy of parole
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: Hapless Forest Whitaker devotees
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Ultraconservatives
♪ Parody inspired by “Don’t Come Around Here No More”
