The Stars Fell On Henrietta

Texas, 1935. It's a time of boomtowns or bust for oil wildcatters and, repeatedly, derby-topped Mr. Cox has come out flat busted. Not to worry. Mr. Cox has a mule -- headed optimism. He's sure as the sunrise that near the town of Henrietta on a cotton farm that raises more dust than bolls, there's black gold beneath the barren sod. From Clint Eastwood's production company, The Stars Fell on Henrietta is a sweet -- natured tail of hope and redemption. As Mr. Cox, Robert Duvall has another acclaimed performance to his gallery of great roles. And Aiden Quinn, Francis Fisher and Brian Dennehy shine as Lone Star denizens, not so much swayed, as gradually infected by Cox's unflagging will. That optimism, you'll discover, is catching. Are a doodlebug rod, tasting the soil, or even tossing the cat and marking where it lands unusual way to find oil? Yes. Are they hopeless? Never. Or, as Mr. Cox might say, "You've got to hitch your wagon to a star, sweetheart."

• drama