Yoakam, as a rodeo clown, confronts more than the bulls in 'Painted Hero' and the storyline deals with much more than a weekend on the rodeo circuit.
This movie addresses a man facing his past and colliding head on with his future. Small town political corruption, old family secrets long buried, newer family secrets recently encountered, a murder mystery, and of course the rodeo as a backdrop combine to fill this story with excitement, romance, and drama.
The soft, understated, down-home acting style of Dwight Yoakam always make you think you are just waching Dwight, as well....just Dwight. In reality that is the secret of Dwight's talent. Behind that easy-going, quite, good-old-boy demeaner is an intelligent, humorous, and very talented musician, singer, director, and actor. In this movie his acting talent shines while the story entertains.
This is an under-exposed, under-rated film that deserves better. Take a ride on the ups and downs of the 'painted hero', Vigil's, emotional return to his old hometown with its friends, enemies, secrets, and love all waiting to just 'throw him off' and you too.