In a sense it's pleasant to see Nolte, Roth and Guzmán settling into their roles as if they were old slippers, but these great performers aren't completely outfitted to settle for Greatest Hits work.

Director Jonathan Sobol and screenwriter Stephen Kunc effectively replicate the tone and eccentricity of a pulp paperback but can't arrange all their good ideas into anything solid.

"The Padre" isn't a sharp genre creation, but there's a compelling feel for the culture and desperation, dusted with just a little bit of humor to ease appreciation.

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