If you’re looking for a feel-good flick where the hero rides off into a golden sunset, stop reading. Two Men in Town isn’t that movie. It’s heavy. It’s dusty. Honestly, it’s one of those films that stays in your teeth like desert sand long after the credits roll. Directed by Rachid Bouchareb and released in 2014, this isn't actually an original story. It's a reimagining of the 1973 French classic Deux hommes dans la ville, which featured giants like Alain Delon and Jean Gabin.
Forest Whitaker plays William Garnett. He’s a man who spent eighteen years behind bars for killing a deputy. Now, he’s out. He’s converted to Islam. He wants a quiet life in a small New Mexico town. But the world—specifically a local Sheriff played by Harvey Keitel—has other plans.
It’s a slow burn. Really slow. Some people hate that, but if you appreciate a character study that actually lets the actors breathe, there is a lot to chew on here.
The Brutal Reality of the Two Men in Town Narrative
Most redemption stories follow a predictable arc. The protagonist does something bad, says sorry, works hard, and the community eventually gives them a pat on the back. This movie spits on that trope. It asks a much more uncomfortable question: Does society ever actually let you change?
Garnett is trying. He really is. Forest Whitaker brings this incredible, twitchy vulnerability to the role. You can see him physically trying to shrink himself so he doesn't scare anyone. He gets a job. He meets a woman, played by Brenda Blethyn, who is his parole officer and arguably the only person who sees him as a human being rather than a file.
But then there’s Bill Agati.
Harvey Keitel is terrifying here precisely because he isn't a "villain" in the mustache-twirling sense. He’s a lawman who lost a friend. He’s convinced that once a killer, always a killer. It’s a collision course. You know it’s coming. The tension isn't about if things will go wrong, but when the pressure cooker finally explodes.
Why the New Mexico Setting Matters
Location is everything. By moving the story from France to a border town in New Mexico, Bouchareb adds layers of modern political weight. The desert is indifferent. It’s huge and empty, which highlights just how trapped Garnett actually is. He’s free from prison, but the horizon offers no escape.
The border patrol elements and the presence of the Mexican cartel (represented by Luis Guzmán) remind us that this isn't just a personal grudge match. It’s a landscape of systemic violence. Garnett is caught between his past as a criminal and a law enforcement system that refuses to believe in his reform.
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A Cast That carries the Weight
- Forest Whitaker: He uses his silence better than most actors use dialogue.
- Harvey Keitel: Pure, concentrated stubbornness.
- Brenda Blethyn: She provides the soul of the film. Her character, Emily Smith, represents the ideal version of the justice system—one that believes in rehabilitation.
- Luis Guzmán: He plays Terence, a ghost from Garnett’s past who just won't go away.
The chemistry—or lack thereof—between Whitaker and Keitel is what fuels the engine. They barely share the screen, yet Keitel’s presence looms over every scene Whitaker is in. It’s psychological warfare.
The Controversy of the Ending
Without spoiling the specifics for those who haven't caught it on streaming yet, the ending of Two Men in Town is polarizing. Some critics felt it was too nihilistic. Others argued it was the only honest way to conclude a story about a man being hunted by his own history.
Basically, the film suggests that the "system" isn't broken; it's working exactly as intended. It’s designed to keep people in boxes. When Garnett tries to step out of his box, the lid gets slammed down harder. It’s frustrating to watch. It’s supposed to be.
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If you're looking for technical flaws, the pacing occasionally stumbles. There are moments where the subplots involving the cartel feel like they belong in a different, more traditional action movie. But when the focus stays on the central trio—the convict, the cop, and the parole officer—the film is electric.
How to Approach This Film Today
Watching this movie in the current climate feels different than it did in 2014. We talk a lot more now about recidivism and the failures of the carceral system. Two Men in Town was arguably ahead of its time in how it depicted the impossibility of a "clean slate."
If you decide to watch it, pay attention to the sound design. The wind. The silence. The way the environment feels like it’s closing in on Garnett despite the vast open spaces. It’s a masterclass in atmospheric dread.
Don't expect a remake of the Delon version. It’s its own beast. It’s grittier, sweatier, and much more cynical about the American Dream.
Actionable Insights for Cinephiles
- Watch the 1973 original first: If you can find Deux hommes dans la ville, watch it to see how the themes of the death penalty and social prejudice have evolved (or stayed the same) over 40 years.
- Compare the landscapes: Notice how the American Southwest is used as a metaphor for a "no man's land" compared to the urban French setting of the original.
- Analyze the religious themes: Garnett’s conversion to Islam is a major plot point that adds a layer of "otherness" in a post-9/11 American border town, which the film uses to show why the Sheriff is so predisposed to distrust him.
- Look for the subtle performances: Watch Brenda Blethyn’s reactions. In a movie dominated by two intense men, she is the emotional anchor that prevents the film from spinning into pure melodrama.
This isn't a "popcorn movie." It’s a "sit in the dark and think about your life" movie. It demands your attention and offers no easy answers, which is exactly why it remains a significant piece of Forest Whitaker's filmography.
To get the most out of the experience, view it as a tragedy rather than a thriller. The "two men" aren't just characters; they are two different philosophies of justice clashing in a place where mercy is in short supply. Stop looking for the hero. Start looking at the system. It's much more rewarding that way.