many spoiler and many flaw the premise of the movie be a border patrol agent and norton and isn not too fond of illegal alien and kill one . pete and the title character slaughter friend and find out it norton and take him and the body on a journey to bury him in estrada home village . problem represent the killing be just a bad accident . it pretty apparent the agent have remorse but panic and hide the deed along with his border agent buddy . the border patrol be portray a two dimensional bumbling racist while the mexican be kindhearted and try to survive . although hollywood want you to believe in the dignity of their fellow man there be none for the border patrol . norton be never really give a chance to explain what happen to pete . problem represent the promise that estrada make pete keep in the event of his death be base on a lie that cheapen the character involve and doesn not make sense . my guess it push the movie over the 1 represent30 mark . problem represent there be multiple pov version of a couple of scene that do not really differ . i be tire of this cinema trick and it useless here except to push the movie over 1 represent30 . best part represent levon helm a the blind hermit . this be by far the best and most insightful part of the movie . dwight yoakum performance be also good but levon steal the movie . big problem represent tommy lee jones have no range . he have an unsympathetic constant deadpan delivery . shouldn not be allow to carry a movie . wait for it to come out on video . finally and for those who hype the new western such a this film and brokeback mountain and rent the man who shoot liberty valance . this show real conflict and heroism and friendship and sacrifice . also and shane for the breathtaking scenery .