Lone Star was an unexpected treat. This low-budget film may never have seen the dark of your local movie theater, but it's taking the video stores by storm.

Set in two eras of a small town in Texas, Lone Star is about a man's search for the truth -- the truth about the town's past and, more importantly, the truth about his father.

The discovery of a skull, and an old sheriff's badge starts our story. The badge belonged to a legendary sheriff of 30 years ago. This sheriff (Kris Kristofferson) is shaking down everyone in town. If something illegal is happening, he's on the take.

It's the present-day sheriff who is so interested in the past. He's got a chip on his shoulder about his father (who was Kristofferson's deputy). We're never quite sure what he's mad about, but over the course of the film, we'll sort all of that out.

Lone Star excels in spinning a yarn that never confuses the audience. The transitions between eras is an art in itself. Often these transitions will occur in a single shot. The camera pans, the lighting changes, and the pan stops on people from the past. The audience also has a clear understanding about each character. Each is unique and there for a reason.

This is a simple story about regular people. No big special effects or natural disasters or ETs here -- just great film-making, the best special effect of all.