Director Peter Bogdanovich and writer Larry McMurtry reteam up for this belated sequel based on McMurtry’s novel. Circa 1984, 50-year-old Duane (Jeff Bridges) is an oil tycoon on the verge of financial collapse, married to a wife, Karla (Annie Potts), who believes he’s unfaithful, and old pal, Anarene’s mayor Sonny (Timothy Bottoms), experiencing mental health issues. Things go even more topsy-turvy when former homecoming queen, Jacy (Cybill Shepherd), returns to town, now a B movie actress who found modest success in Europe before the tragic death of her son. Jacy’s flighty, selfish nature has become somewhat tempered with a worldly wisdom. Though sparks still fly between her and Duane, Jacy surprises everyone when she becomes good friends with Karla. Things come to a head when Anarene celebrates its bicentennial. Cloris Leachman and Randy Quaid also reprise their original roles.
“The citizens of Anarene seem so accepting of human nature that they have given up having any dreams or expectations… in a subtle way, Texasville is making the same point as the previous film: That the last picture show has closed…and now under these wide Texas skies people lower their eyes to smaller concerns and lives without vision.” – Roger Ebert
