3:10 to Yuma Review
by [email protected] (dnb AT dca DOT net)September 13th, 2007
3:10 TO YUMA
A film review by David N. Butterworth
Copyright 2007 David N. Butterworth
*** (out of ****)
Contrary to popular belief The Great American Western--cowboy movies, if you will--isnâeTMt/arenâeTMt really dead or even dying out for that matter, since thereâeTMs always at least one ballsy filmmaker around willing to take a crack at one, likewise one producer willing to take that all too uncertain risk and bankroll such a venture. Thus every couple of years or so weâeTMre afforded an "Unforgiven" or an "Open Range," even a "City Slickers" (or two), the waning vestiges of a genre that, try as it might, doesnâeTMt seem to want to give up the ghost.
Westerns are a noble breed. They excel, typically, at polarizing good and evil. They offer us human stories of, usually, the little man vs. great injustice. And the cinematography, indeed the very vanishing landscape itself, is often staggering.
Nowadays itâeTMs not even necessary to come up with an original story idea, as in the case of James MangoldâeTMs "3:10 to Yuma," a no-nonsense remake of the 1957 film of the same name that starred Van Heflin as a small-time rancher who agrees to escort a murderous outlaw (played by Glenn Ford) to the town of Contention, Arizona to catch the 3:10pm train to Yuma (prison). Why? Because the job pays $200 and Dan Evans needs the money, badly, not to mention proving himself to himself.
In the 2007 version Christian Bale ("The Prestige," "The New World," "Batman Begins") plays Evans, the down-on-his-luck cattleman with two young sons, a lovely wife (Gretchen Mol), and debts out the wazoo. Russell Crowe ("Cinderella Man," "A Beautiful Mind," "Gladiator") is the duplicitous, smooth-talking sharpshooter Ben Wade whose renegade gang, led by the ignominious Charlie Prince (an intense Ben Foster), is in hot pursuit.
Based on an Elmore Leonard short story, "3:10 to Yuma" is all about honor and appearances, about grace under pressure, doing whatâeTMs right, and putting your family first. The friction between Evans and Wade builds and a battle of wills unfolds, exacerbated by the presence of EvansâeTMs teenaged son Will (keenly played by Logan Lerman). But donâeTMt go thinking this is a talky movie, or one that shies away from action sequences, for it isnâeTMt (and doesnâeTMt). The climactic shoot-out in Contention is especially exciting, as WadeâeTMs boys close in for a final confrontation.
It makes perfect sense that a director with MangoldâeTMs credentials would be entrusted with this character-driven material, given his previous work on "Walk the Line" (the Johnny Cash biopic with Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon) and the time traversing rom-com "Kate & Leopold" (Hugh Jackman and Meg Ryan). Bale and Crowe are no less a daunting duo and Mangold serves them up delightfully; deliciously. These are thoughtful actors, but they can run, ride, and shoot just fine and dandy thank you.
"3:10 to Yuma" is yet another stirring example that the Western (with a capital W) is alive and eminently kicking (and that reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated). In fact, given the fine showing by all concerned I wouldnâeTMt be surprised to see a "4:40 from Yuma" steaming around a not too distant bend.
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David N. Butterworth
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Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
