Silver City (Sayles, 2004) DVD, 2004

During a gubernatorial race in small-town Colorado, a mystery is uncovered involving a dead body found in a local lake. A private detective, Danny, is hired by the governor-to-be's campaign manager, who is worried that the unexpected event may be used as a scandal-maker by the opposition. But when Danny begins to investigate, he learns that business mogul Wes Benteen, is using the candidate, Dickie Pilager, to promote his moneymaking agenda.

Director-writer-editor John Sayles weaves together multiple storylines involving environmental issues, political and corporate corruption, activism, illegal aliens, labour laws, and also a sweet love affair, simplifying it all into a cohesive and deeply enjoyable drama. The film reflects on the presidency of George W Bush in that candidate Pilager is a good-hearted Republican who lacks communications skills and a backbone, allowing regulation to lapse, power to be abused, and a scourge of long-term problems to be ignored. Meanwhile, Silver City is a gripping whodunit, set in the still-dusty New West where old silver mines become real estate developments, and corporate tycoons attempt to privatise protected land for their own bounty.