A RE-MAKE THAT IS SUPERIOR TO THE ORIGINAL
Written: Sep 07 '07 (Updated Sep 09 '07)
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Great acting, script and direction
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: Hooray! We finally see a re-make that is even better than the original.
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| mike.holmes's Full Review: 3:10 to Yuma (2007) |
As I've recently written, most of the time I don't like the re-makes of films. The Halloween fiasco from just last week is a perfect example. The new version was a shallow copy of the original.
The new "3:10" to Yuma is an exception to the rule when it comes to re-makes. While the original film (from 1957) starring Glenn Ford and Van Heflin was certainly a good movie, the new version surpasses it in several ways.
THE PLOT
Based on an Elmore Leonard short story, the plot is fairly simple. We first meet Arizona rancher Dan Evans (Christian Bale-"Batman Begins", "The Prestige" as the proverbial landlord is terrorizing his family in order to scare Dan off the land. Next, we witness one of the Wild West's worst "bad guys", Ben Wade (Russell Crowe-"A Beautiful Mind", "Gladiator") as he successfully robs the the 22nd stagecoach delivering large amounts of cash. He and his gang are ruthless killers with no apparent care for their fellow man. They go to a small Arizona town of to celebrate their success but Wade is captured while he fools around with the local bartender (one of only two women with speaking roles.)
The owner of the stagecoach line, Grayson Butterfield (Dallas Roberts-"Walk The Line") offers a reward of $200 to Dan Evans to help take Wade to a rendezvous with the 3:10 train to Yuma where he will be taken to a prison and ultimately be hanged.
The journey from the small town to Contention, Arizona consumed over half of the film. During that trip, Wade continues to prove that he is a killer but he and Evans gradually start to respect each other in gradual increments.
The final scenes are in Contention just before and as the train arrives.
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THIS FILM
Director James Margold ("Walk The Line", "Heavy", "Girl, Interrupted") along with three screenwriters, Halsted Welles (who wrote the original screenplay for the earlier movie), Michael Brandt and Derek Haas (both of whom wrote the screenplays for "2 Fast 2 Furious" and "Catch That Kid") have put together an intelligent, fast-moving drama (albeit extremely violent) which provides a very different view of the Old West than we are used to seeing.
For one thing, the main two characters are far more complex than the usual "bad guy" versus "good guy." Although rancher Dan is a very "good" person, he has a problem with self-esteem as both his wife, Alice (Gretchen Mol-"The Notorious Betty Page") and his son William (Logan Lerman-"Hoot", "The Patriot") think that he is a coward.
Wade, on the other hand, even admits to being a total moral misfit but we are shown odd elements of humanity in his character throughout the film.
The dialogue in the movie is extremely intelligent and time appropriate with a number of both subtle moments of humor and contradictory character traits.
The acting by both Crowe and Bale could get them nominations for an Oscar. This is nothing new for Russell who portrays his character to perfection, often with a simple change of expressions. Bale is certainly one of the finer young actors and he is a perfect foil to Crowe's character here.
Young Logan Lerman also does a remarkable job of acting as we see him move from disgust to admiration of his father.
It was great to see Peter Fonda ("Easy Riders", "Ulee's Gold") in a another character role and Luke Wilson has a nice, but very short part in the film.
The music is perfect for the movie from the opening scenes to the very end. The original music is provided by Marco Beltrami ("I, Robot", "Blade II).
Cinematographer Phedon Papamichael ("Walk The Line") provides some very realistic views of the Old West including both interior and exterior scenes that add to the success of the film.
Ultimately, with the excellent direction, writing and acting, the film left me with a very satisfied feeling that what I watched could have happened. As with the original film, I do have a little problem with the ending of the movie. However, given the hints which permeate the entire film, the ending is logical.
I have to give this excellent film FIVE STARS.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Action Movie
Viewing Method: Other
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Nothing
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mike.holmes
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Member: Mike Holmes
Location: Odessa, Texas
Reviews written: 1241
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About Me:
TO HONOR TED KENNEDY, CONGRESS SHOULD PASS A MEANINGFUL HEALTH CARE BILL
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