Forest Whitaker plays a parolee, who finds Allah inside, and tries to get his life on track after 18 years. He's off to a good start with a job, a bank account, and a good woman. Of course his old partner in crime tries hard to get him to come back to his old ways, but the real problem is the sheriff in town who won't let him forget his dark past.

OK, this movie has some (minor) problems, but which movie doesn't have them? Yet, at the end of the day it's a very powerful and poetic movie that gets under your skin and makes you think.

Forest Whitaker is unrecognizably slim and his performance is just brilliant, as always. Harvey Keitel, looking much older than I expected, is as sovereign in this role as he always is. No surprise, he being such an experienced actor.

Cinematography is beautiful. The ugliness and isolation of the town and the aridity of the landscape, building an unmerciful natural wall against desperate Mexicans, contribute immensely to the feeling of loneliness and hopelessness of Whitaker's character.

Can a man change and leave his past behind him, or will it stick with him for the rest of his life?