Into the West
posted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 in Movie Reviews
We don’t really get a lot of Westerns anymore, and it’s kind of a shame. The Western is pretty unfashionable as genres go, but a good Western is evocative of everything we’ve come to love about cinema: larger-than-life characters, epic confrontations, and a fight between good and evil. 3:10 to Yuma is a Western in the most classic sense, and it turns out that it’s a pretty good one at that. The film is a remake of the 1957 film of the same name, which in turn, was adapted from an Elmore Leonard short story. Dan Evans is a poor farmer who’s having trouble making the rent. A trip into town gets him caught up in the arrest of notorious outlaw Ben Wade. Evans offers his services to guard Wade on the way to the town of Contention, where he’ll be put on the train to the prison in Yuma, where he’ll be hanged. Along the way, Wade proves to be as dangerous as his legend says, though there’s much more to him than meets the eye.
All the classic elements are there: a good man, a charismatic outlaw, a tough situation, and lots of gunfights. This is a Western through and through, and the film does a lot with the genre. The plot is fairly simple, but the film draws complexity from the interactions of characters. Ben Wade is a mighty powerful character, a magnetic influence on everything around him. While his character is clearly a bad guy, there are layers to him that separate him from the average villain. The script isn’t perfect. There are issues with some of the resolutions, but overall, this is a solid tale about heroism and integrity that also happens to be pretty packed with action.
The film is well-made, as well. Westerns provide many opportunities to show off some pretty stark landscapes, and 3:10 to Yuma doesn’t waste any chances. The film is also paced well, making good use of its runtime. The action is fast and furious, with a good, solid mix of stunts and just classic gun-fighting.
What really sells the film in the end, however, is the cast. Christian Bale and Russell Crowe prove to be a formidable duo. Bale as the rancher Dan Evans is the very picture of a man in conflict, one trying to reconcile his beliefs with his opportunities. He gives a basically one-note character enough nuance to work. Russell Crowe is magnificent as Ben Wade. A Western is really only as good as its villain, and by that criteria, this film is fantastic. Crowe is just great in this film, providing a lot of humanity to an essentially invincible character. The supporting cast has tons to offer, too. Peter Fonda makes great use of the little time he gets on screen. Alan Tudyk adds a layer vulnerability to the ensemble.
It’s an easy decision: if you like Westerns, you’ll probably like 3:10 to Yuma. If you haven’t been exposed much to the genre, it’s a good introduction. Overall, though, it’s not just about the genre. This is a well-acted, well-made film that deserves some time in the theater. It isn’t perfect, but it’s definitely some good old fun. Recommended.
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