3:10 to Yuma

[senorblinky]

I don't know who has even heard of this new Russel Crowe/Christian Bale western, but it's a good 'un! It's a remake of the 1957 film of the same name, and i only realised afterwards that it was based on the short story of Elmore Leonard.

You might know Elmore Leonard from some of his more recent works, like Out of Sight (George Clooney/J Lo/Don Cheadle), Get Shorty and Be Cool and of course Rum Punch (AKA Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown)
Leonard is a gifted writer, that can ease your spirits by taking a light, sometimes comical view at a sequence of events, but his trademark is to make it turn, and go wrong, making the viewer say "Oh, Sh!t" because now you realise the significance of the mess the characters got themselves into - it's not fun and games anymore.

If you like Russel Crowe, you'll love him as Ben Wade in 3:10. Very charasmatic, Bible reading outlaw, in his first role as an antagonist since Virtuosity in the 1990s. Crowe and Bale do a stellar job, i even had to ask myself - Is that really Bale? Patrick Bateman/Bruce Wayne/John Preston would NEVER stand for this outlaw nonsense! But their chemistry is amazing and you find yourself wishing that this 117minute Western Action Drama was ANOTHER 117 minutes.

The director is James Mangold. Although he has a fairly limited repertoire as director (with films under his belts such as Walk the Line, Identity, Cop Land & Girl Interrupted) he nails the genre and really creates movies that are talked about afterwards. We can really expect some great things from him.

Now - what is the film about?
3:10 to Yuma refers to a train, that leaves at 3:10 to the Yuma prison.
Why?

Evans (Bale) is a footless farmer, had his leg shot off in the war (North against South - he fought for the North) and subsequently became a farmer in the South. However, the rail road was heading down to their parts and his neighbor cut of the water to his farm, until Bale could repay his debt. But with the Water cut off, Bale couldn't farm. Wade (Crowe) is the outlaw, targeting only railroad carriages and in his lifetime stealing more than $400 000 from the railroad. His posse loves and respects him, especially Charlie Prince, his 2IC (portrayed by Ben Forster - who is shaping up to be a very serious, very brilliant actor, you may know him from Get over it and Hostage) Wade finally gets caught, partly because of Evans distraction. From the first time they meet, you notice that there is a certain respect these two men have for each other. But Evans' motive is to get Wade to jail, and colelct a $200 reward, so his family can farm an prosper. Throughout the film, Wade makes offers to purchase his safety, which we later find out, is not to buy his freedom, but to make life easier for Evans) and to spare Evans and his son the wrath of his gang, that are now pursuing them. It's a grilling, gruelling, unforgiving up and down to get the outlaw to the train, and you'll have to see for yourself if they make it or not

This film is absolutely worth the movie ticket. Well made, beautiful scenery and magnificent performances from a fantastic cast. I would recommend it to anyone, because it's not to heavy, with the right amount of sentiment. The way westerns are supposed to be made.

[Albereth]

Funny that they are showing it at the Zone and not too many other places. Don't they realise that those are not the same Indians you get in a Cowboys and Indians movie?

[senorblinky]

lol!
Well, who saw it? It's really flippen brilliant!