Good concept, poorly executed.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

I could have sworn this movie was made years before 'Fargo' and 'A simple plan', but oh. But somehow I like this one anyway, even if it isn't very original or challenging. I like the characters and their petty - but genuine - ways, the moments of dark humour, and even the injections of action scenes just to spice things up.My favorite role is the one of Earl by Wade Williams; a simple-minded log with a good sense of humour, but just not enough brains to pull this one off. Kyle MacLachlan is a good second, being the good-hearted Booth who might have made it big as an inventor - no really. And Amy Locane is the worthy third; playing the typical blonde Sally who, for a change, turns out to be not that typical at all, in my opinion - or at least she comes off quite sympathetic.No long story or deep analysis required - it's just that bag of money taken and the things that must come of it; 7 out of 10.

Two policemen discover men dead after a gunfight. There is money too. Lots of. And drug. What would you do, keep it, leave it ? The dead ones don't need money and they were drug dealers so would it be stealing ? Of course the two men steal the money, and hide it, and they swear they'll forget all about it for a while. Of course, there are some evidences, of course there is a federal agent who thinks that there is money missing... The situation will get worse and worse until the end. If you've seen "a simple plan", from Sam Raimi, you'll notice both movies have quite the same plot. Funny : both movies came out in 1998, it was in the air... But one of these two movies is very good, and it is not "route 9". Sorry for the work, for the actors - not bad actually - sorry every body, this movie is not a masterpiece. At all.

Made for TV in the same year, this thriller has similarities to A Simple Plan, but is sufficiently different and good enough to stand comparison with that better known movie. In any case the broad plot outline of both is as old as the Hollywood Hills - easy money goes to the heads of people who should know better; their foolproof scam runs into unforeseen events; and the thieves fall out. The acting is uniformly convincing, with Peter Coyote as a Sheriff with marital problems; Kyle MacLachlan and Wade Williams as his two Deputies (and perps); and an impressive Roma Maffia as a Federal Agent. The desert setting is perhaps a little too familiar; but the action keeps moving along, there are some really unexpected twists, and an infidelity subplot is cleverly woven into the main story.

The premise of the movie is basically an inferior American rip-off of "Shallow Grave", a really great British thriller starring among others Ewan McGregor (famous from Trainspotting). In Route 9, two sheriffs in a calm rural county stumble upon a drug deal gone bad. All the criminals have shot each other dead, and in one of the cars is a briefcase filled with money. Sheriff Booth Parker (Kyle MacLachlan) wants to report in, but his partner Dwayne Hogan (Peter Coyote) persuades him that this is the great chance they have been waiting for; a miracle from God that will save them from the hell of being, basically, white trash without a future. They take the money and torch the car to (as they believe) cover their tracks before reporting in. To their horror, they then discover that one of the badly injured criminals is still alive and might have witnessed their theft. Hogan argues that their lives will be ruined if the man survives long enough to tell on them, and he "helps the man along" by suffocating him with his jacket. After this, they are forced to more and more evil acts as they desperately try to cover up their tracks. The acting is fair. Peter Coyote is not as convincing as Kyle MacLachlan, but MacLachlan does have the advantage of playing the Nice Guy With The Conscience. The plot is pretty predictable with a moralistic ending. See Shallow Grave instead, it is much more scary, realistic, fast paced and unpredictable.