Rating: 4.5 Pulses
Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, Ben Foster, Gretchen Mol
Directed by James Mangold
Rated R
There have been biopics (Tombstone), revisions (The Proposition) and the occasional homage (Open Range). But, ever since Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven, there hasn’t been an American western that captured the true essence of the vast frontier.
In its heyday, Westerns were classic morality plays. The protagonist’s ethical code would be tested against the lawless West. The sagebrush and six-shooters was merely a vehicle from which great human drama unfolded. But the genre grew stale, and the urge to reinvent contaminated the formula. That is, until now.
Enter 3:10 to Yuma, an impeccably acted, supremely directed remake of the 1957 film of the same name. 3:10 to Yuma crackles with kinetic energy and mythical romanticism. Simply put, it is the best American western of the last 15 years.
Hobbled by a Civil War injury, Dan Evans (Bale) is an Arizona rancher at the mercy of the bank. He has held firm to his integrity throughout his life, and now he is close to losing his farm and the respect of his wife (Mol) and eldest son William (Logan Lerman).
Dan’s moral opposite is outlaw Ben Wade (Crowe), an erudite yet callous gang leader. After raiding a stagecoach full of railroad money, Wade is captured. The railroad company offers money to anyone willing to ride Wade to the prison-bound title train.
Seizing the opportunity to both pull his farm out of the hole and gain some admiration from his family, Dan saddles up for the risky mission. His principles are immediately recognized by the observant Wade, and the two form an unspoken affiliation. With Wade’s posse in pursuit and son William in tow, Dan unearths his fighting spirit in order to see the job through.
The acting in the film is top-notch. Crowe and Bale slip effortlessly into their roles. Ben Foster is chilling as Wade’s devoted second-in-command, and a barely recognizable Peter Fonda delivers a solid performance as a grizzled bounty hunter.
Most of all, though, it is the assured directing of James Mangold which makes 3:10 to Yuma a train well worth catching. Pay close attention to the ending. The proverbial bow tied onto the climax is an illusion, much like the idea that the American Western is dead.
