3:10 to Yuma (B or 3/4 stars)
Arizona, late 1800's: infamous outlaw, Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) & his gang of thieves/murderers have given lots of trouble to the new Southern Railroad company in James Mangold's '3:10 to Yuma'. When Wade is captured, injured Civil War vet, Dan Evans (Christian Bale), struggling to maintain his ranch (plagued by a drought), volunteers to deliver him to the 3:10pm train to Yuma prison. There, he'd most likely be hung. On the long trail, Wade & Evans, polar opposites, begin to earn each other's respect. However, with Wade's men following close behind, the seemingly easy mission of getting Wade to the 3:10 becomes dangerous, violent, & deadly. This is an intelligent Western, highlighted with charismatic performances by the ensemble cast. It just isn't extraordinary.
Ah, the Old West: Bad guys with smirks, good guys with concerned frowns, horses, stagecoaches, duels, tumbleweed towns ... ya gotta love 'em. To capture Wade would prove to be a huge opportunity for Dan, his wife (Gretchen Mol), and his 2 sons. In order to save his ranch (he owes $$ and foreclosure to a nasty Railroad man, Mr. Hollander), he proves to Mr. Butterfield (Dallas Roberts) that his Civil War sharpshooting skills more than qualify him to escort Wade across the desert to the train. Also involved in the 'escort' is Dan's skeptical 14 yr. old son, William (Logan Lerman), the town veterinarian (the always funny Alan Tudyk), and a bounty hunter named Byron McElroy (a great Peter Fonda). Fondas's McElroy is old, beaten-down, cantankerous, and an asset to this film.
All things considered, the lengthy trip through the wilderness does not go well. Not only to they have to thwart Wade's band of hooligans, temporarily led by Charlie Prince (the exciting, intense Ben Foster), but they have to survive an onslaught by bloodthirsty Apaches & vigilante mine-blowers/railway workers. But the most danger does come from Prince. He's desperate to get Wade back and kill all those who aided in his capture. The 30-minute finale includes a tense stand-off in Contention City btwn. Ben's gang, the town marshall, and good 'ole Dan. The scene is shot extremely well. It's suspenseful, there's an electric climax, but while it all ends fairly appropriately, I, personally, didn't like what occurred. That doesn't mean the film is bad in any way, I just didn't care for the very ending.
Dan is a curious character. His well-meaning demeanor doesn't really change. But he's able to change the few people around him into becoming better, helpful people. All he wants is justice; to do what's right. And hopefully, he'll be reciprocated & redeemed for his earnest work. He had taken this escort job for $200 so as to save his ranch for a while. And he believes that if he accomplishes this task, he'd deserve the money, and then some. Christian Bale is very good in this atypical role. Thanks to him & Russell Crowe (who's Ben Wade is both ambiguously charming, offbeat, macho, conniving, & menacing), '3:10 to Yuma' is a mostly compelling ride. Watching Ben & Dan duke it out (psychologically) is more thrilling than any gunfight ... though those were pretty darn good, too.
Bale & Crowe offer raw, intriguing characters who sustain interest whenever the narrative flounders. '3:10 to Yuma' is competently made (great locales & sets). The film moves tersely & briskly. It's accomplished, has charisma, & a fair amount of depth (given the extremely straightforward plot), BUT, nothing really 'sings'. It offers a good morality tale, though, it isn't very memorable. And as I mentioned, I'm not crazy about the dark & somewhat implausible ending. But overall, it offers a nice night to be had at the theater. I am always glad to see a Western (a resurrected old-school genre) about good fathers, honoring thy family, and being a man's man. It may not be a classic, it has its so-so moments, but I quite enjoyed '3:10 to Yuma'.
Ah, the Old West: Bad guys with smirks, good guys with concerned frowns, horses, stagecoaches, duels, tumbleweed towns ... ya gotta love 'em. To capture Wade would prove to be a huge opportunity for Dan, his wife (Gretchen Mol), and his 2 sons. In order to save his ranch (he owes $$ and foreclosure to a nasty Railroad man, Mr. Hollander), he proves to Mr. Butterfield (Dallas Roberts) that his Civil War sharpshooting skills more than qualify him to escort Wade across the desert to the train. Also involved in the 'escort' is Dan's skeptical 14 yr. old son, William (Logan Lerman), the town veterinarian (the always funny Alan Tudyk), and a bounty hunter named Byron McElroy (a great Peter Fonda). Fondas's McElroy is old, beaten-down, cantankerous, and an asset to this film.
All things considered, the lengthy trip through the wilderness does not go well. Not only to they have to thwart Wade's band of hooligans, temporarily led by Charlie Prince (the exciting, intense Ben Foster), but they have to survive an onslaught by bloodthirsty Apaches & vigilante mine-blowers/railway workers. But the most danger does come from Prince. He's desperate to get Wade back and kill all those who aided in his capture. The 30-minute finale includes a tense stand-off in Contention City btwn. Ben's gang, the town marshall, and good 'ole Dan. The scene is shot extremely well. It's suspenseful, there's an electric climax, but while it all ends fairly appropriately, I, personally, didn't like what occurred. That doesn't mean the film is bad in any way, I just didn't care for the very ending.
Dan is a curious character. His well-meaning demeanor doesn't really change. But he's able to change the few people around him into becoming better, helpful people. All he wants is justice; to do what's right. And hopefully, he'll be reciprocated & redeemed for his earnest work. He had taken this escort job for $200 so as to save his ranch for a while. And he believes that if he accomplishes this task, he'd deserve the money, and then some. Christian Bale is very good in this atypical role. Thanks to him & Russell Crowe (who's Ben Wade is both ambiguously charming, offbeat, macho, conniving, & menacing), '3:10 to Yuma' is a mostly compelling ride. Watching Ben & Dan duke it out (psychologically) is more thrilling than any gunfight ... though those were pretty darn good, too.
Bale & Crowe offer raw, intriguing characters who sustain interest whenever the narrative flounders. '3:10 to Yuma' is competently made (great locales & sets). The film moves tersely & briskly. It's accomplished, has charisma, & a fair amount of depth (given the extremely straightforward plot), BUT, nothing really 'sings'. It offers a good morality tale, though, it isn't very memorable. And as I mentioned, I'm not crazy about the dark & somewhat implausible ending. But overall, it offers a nice night to be had at the theater. I am always glad to see a Western (a resurrected old-school genre) about good fathers, honoring thy family, and being a man's man. It may not be a classic, it has its so-so moments, but I quite enjoyed '3:10 to Yuma'.