简介：AtellingstoryofanunemployedVietnamvetinButte,Montana,whosewifeleaveshimaftersevenyearswhenshefeelsthereisnolongercommunicationbetweenthemand-morepainfullyandpointedly-becausesheisunabletohaveachildowingtohissterilityfromexposuretoAgentOrange.Toldinagentlestyle,richlyemotional,BellDiamondwasmadewithnon-professionalsdrawnfromthecommunityofButte[Montana]. -JonJost "...withastorydevelopedbythefilmmakerandcastandcompletelyimprovised,thefilmdealswithcharacterswhoareneitherarticulatenorparticularlyattractive,butpaysthemthekindofrespectandattentionthattheywouldneverreceivefromotherquarters.VisuallyJost'smostimpressiveworktodate.Theimpactofthefilm'soriginalformofrealismarrivesonlygradually,butonceitregisters,itbecomesindelible." -JonathanRosenbaum,ChicagoReader "Amongthetenbestoftheyear.FormallyexquisiteandpoliticallypointedstudyofanalienatedVietnamvetagainstthebackgroundofabankruptedminingtown." -DaveKehr,ChicagoTribune "Jostdiscernsemotionsthatconventionalfilmpracticemisses.Usingnonproactorsheproveshisintegrityalmosttoowell,surroundingthisdesertofinarticulate,tightfaceswithsomeofthefinestpictorialrepresentationsoftheworking-classWestimaginable-cloudfilledskies,cyclonefences,desolatefactories,pipelines,oldtanks.ApackingupscenebetweenJeffandCathyandaconfrontationwithaveteran'scounseloraresharponattitudeandlanguage.Allthisthroughtheintrepidpursuitofadifferentworldandanalternatepointofview." -ArmondWhite,FilmComment "Jost'smethodofnarratinghistalewillnotbetoeverytaste,for,thoughit'svisuallyimpressive,notoneframecouldbeconfusedwithcommercialcinema.Usingrealtime,JostlinksJeff'sstorytothatofAmericanlaborhistory(inabrilliantsequence),endswithdelightfulambiguity,andgenerallyadoptsanedgy,improvisatorystylethatremindsyouoftoned-downCassavetes.Thisslow,quiet,intensefilmheldmeinitssway-ithasthepowerofreality."…