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I laud James Mangold for giving us a magnificent Western. The othe prob is that the law has to scrounge for volunteers to escort Wade across the unforgiving plains---the escort eventually consisting of a small group of rickety, untested, unproven locals that include the town veterinarian [Doc Potter] and a guy with one leg. He's paying major bucks for these guys to get Wade on that train. There are a couple of problems, though. Awesome, as Peter Fonda [EASY RIDER, 1969] is dredged from the depths for this one and plays a tough-as-nails Pinkerton agent. However, 3:10 TO YUMA [2007] is a GREAT film and the best Western since the underappreciated TOMBSTONE [1993]. I guess we've become desensitized to great, old-time movie-making in the past decades.
A film that still respected the original 3:10 without demeaning it and, actually, giving us a little more. The escort finally gets Wade to Contention where they hole up in a hotel and are joined by the local Marshal and his deps. Christian Bale [as Dan Evans] plays a down-on-his-luck family man, both wife and oldest kid getting on his case, who is on the verge of losing his house and farm because of lack of $. Bale's wooden countenance and whispering, gravelly voice are optimal for his role as the chronically demoralized father & husband who can't seem to provide for his family.
I even scoffed at the idea of Russell Crowe playing the critical lead, terribly miscast, I thought. Wow. The dialogue between Bale and his tenuously supportive wife, before he leaves to escort Wade, is moving. Doc's heroics bails them out of this mess with the revenge-seeking miners but he is sadly killed as they escape.
He is obviously picking up a gun and coming on this one. It's now just Bale and Crowe. Luke Wilson, Owen's bro, has an AWESOME cameo here as a red-neck, yellow-teethed miner. Dallas Roberts [as Mr Butterfield], who I knew nothing about before this, is simply marvelous and perfect as the head of the money-transfering stagecoach company that Wade is plundering and depleting. It becomes time for Butterfield to renounce all attempts to get Wade on the train when Prince publically puts a bounty on their heads and the gang executes the surrendering Marshal and his deputies. Originality being at a nadir, same-old themes are being rehashed and remakes are rampant. This was a GREAT film. The major casting coup here is Ben Foster who plays Wade's #1, Charlie Prince.
Bale is aware the best legacy he can leave his fam is his courage, conviction [moral and ethical] & their home rather than risk certain dissolution of his family and marriage with things as they are. Logan Lerman, who plays Bale's older 15 year old son William, is terrific. His countenance and eyes alone spoke volumes and I doubt anyone could have been any better in this important role. Got to see it yourself. Crowe, like Ford in the orig, uses smarts, smoothness [glibness] and savy to try to talk his way out of being put on that train. Incredibly, what I thought would be it's weak point, casting, was its greatest asset.
Nice repartee between Wade and William in the hotel as it's time to separate. This is one all-time GREAT supporting performance. William industrious at the end trying to help his dad. Best delivery in the entire movie--thanks, Luke. Nifty finish with Wade putting himself on the train headed for Yuma to consummate Bale's mission then whistling for his horse that follows. He's the guy with one leg, lost it in the war, and his self-image is pretty ebbed out right now. Has a lot to prove to himself, also.
Crowe, who played lead Ben Wade, was more versatile than Glenn Ford was in the orig as the leader of a gang of murdering cut-throats who is captured and translocated to the town of Contention to be put on a train that will take him to Yuma Prison. Crowe underplayed his role marvelously and was a joy to watch. New generations are growing up on 'in-your-face' sex, splatter [of blood and everything else] & silliness from Hollywood with the new gen deluded with pretense, propaganda and programming. One problem is that Wade's gang is gonna make sure their "Boss" doesn't get on that train. He also asks Butterfield to take his son safely back. Despite Butterfield's pleas to abort and still get paid Bale, who knows the only sure way to save his home, farm and family is more money, decides to go through with the deal but for more $$ and a guarantee that his family are farm are protected. Frustrated and scared, he is constantly critical of his dad yet follows the motley escort against orders when he feels the group is undermanned. A very atypical villian, though, as he is short, slight of build, has a low-pitched voice and seems almost androgynous.
But, unlike Ford's persona, Ben Wade in this one is also no-bones-about-it evil as nicely depicted by Crowe's hair-raising picketing of Kevin Durand's [Tucker] throat while the latter lay asleep in the middle of the night. Foster is captivating as the focused but sadistic psychopath with the mesmerizing eyes who stops at nothing to get Wade back. What a wonderfully, skillfully selected group of actors this was. The latter, though, look scared from the beginning and get the hell out of there when Wade's "bunch of animals" arrive, led by Prince. That's why I was not too happy with the idea of 3:10 TO YUMA [1957], one of my favorite Westerns of all time [with one of my favorite actors of all time, Glenn Ford], being redone. He's torturing Wade, who got away from the escort, when Doc implores, "you can't do that, that's immoral", & Luke replies ".moral ain't got a damned thing to do with it.". Yet it works. Interesting how through his tumultuous translocation Wade came to admire the strength, courage and principles of his broken but stalwart captor and came to abhor his gang's spurious [strength-in-numbers] effrontery and lack of inner bark [mental strength].
This one scene is unforgettable. All of this, of course, propagated by technnology and the always #1 culprit: $money$. I hope this great remake will motivate many to watch the original 3:10 which had its own singular features and merits and two great, forgotten stars-- Glenn Ford & Van Heflin. Tough journey from hotel to train station for Bale and Wade with the pings + pangs of gunfire everywhere--Prince and the boys right on top of them.
The guy gets skewered. This gruesome act occurs after poor Tuck annoyingly keeps Wade up most of the night with a ".gonna hang me in the mornin" lullaby.
Not a good idea. Stars to Lisa Beach and Sarah Katzman for their search and director James Mangold for the final thumbs up.
It may have become apparent that Dan Evans probably had more guts than any one man in his crew. Great creative & innovative casting and direction AND great acting by the has-to-go-places Foster.
Ya gotta hear this---great script. Heart-wrenching end for Bale and surprising resolution between "rescued" Wade and his gang.
A film that was skillfully, and imaginatively cast with OUTSTANDING supporting acting at all levels---the latter probably a result of great direction, great respect for superstar Crowe and simply having superbly talented actors.
Western movies are, at their best, about strong individuals who face challenges and make their own luck. The character played by Christian Bale is a girly man and it is just painful to watch this movie.
This is not your typical western. And if you want to know why these two actors-Bale and Crowe, are on the top of their game, then this film will give you a clear picture. What happens to these two men throughout the film is what is so compelling.
Peter Fonda is outstanding as the aging Pinkerton Detective.Forget about the typical good and bad guys. The last twenty minutes is one of the best ending that I have seen for a western. It is character and plot driven.With both Russell Crowe and Christian Bale, this is a powerful film with a supporting cast which blends together in a beautiful tapestry.
Of course, there are gunfights, very good gunfights. There are no black and white stereotypes.In essence, this is a story of two men -Ben Wade, the desperate desperado with a heart and Dan Evans, a veteran of the Civil War struggling to survive in the Arizona Desert. The reason why Evans farms a desolate piece of land is one of the touching moments in this film as well as when Evans answers Wade's question about how he lost his leg in the war.
With twists and turns, it is riveting.If you want a well written western with an excellent plot, superb acting, and plenty of rugged action, then this is the one for you.
anyone who saw the original will be disappointed in the ending. the original had a clever and happy ending; this remake has a depressing ending. beware.
Maybe it was the HBO series Deadwood that led to the return of the Western. The grittier and edgier settings really do the trick, and the gunplay are a more believable than what we see in the old John Wayne flicks. Whatever the reason, it's good to see cowboys again. Here, in 3:10 to Yuma, we get to see a more realistic take of the Western that Deadwood has brought out (though the profanity and sex are greatly toned down). While I still prefer Deadwood, 3:10 to Yuma is still a marvelous Western film. Grade: A
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