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This comedic western from director Richard Donner (Lethal Weapon, The Goonies) succeeds largely on the charm of stars Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, and James Garner, as well as a clever script by William Goldman (The Ghost and the Darkness, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). Gibson plays a gambler and a con man who’s trying to collect old debts from several acquaintances so he can afford to enter a climactic winner-take-all poker tournament. But along the way, he entangles with two other con artists — Foster and Garner — who might make strong allies if they weren’t seeking the same prize.
Maverick is a joyful, light-hearted romp built around character more than plot, with the three main characters vacillating between being friends or enemies, their relationships evolving in surprising ways right down to the film’s final minutes. The actors and Donner appear to be having a lot of fun making the film, and this turns out to be an infectious quality or the audience. Supporting player Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves, Thunderheart) steals the show as Gibson’s Native American prankster friend, and renowned cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond (The Deer Hunter, Close Encounters of the Third Kind) captures some of the most stunning vistas ever committed to film. Fans of Richard Donner’s filmography will enjoy a handful of cameos from Donner alumni, including Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon), Margot Kidder (Superman), and Corey Feldman (The Goonies).
With Alfred Molina, James Coburn, Paul Smith (Dune), Geoffrey Lewis, Dub Taylor, and a buoyant score by Randy Newman.
Oscar Nomination: Best Costume Design (April Ferry)