3:10 to Yuma
It’s hard to believe that it’s been four years since we’ve seen a good, solid western. Kevin Costner’s 2003 “Open Range” showed the studios and the public what a viable genre the western still is if there’s a great story to be told.
“3:10 to Yuma” is no exception as it takes the classic struggle of good versus evil back to the old west. Although the film is full of few surprises, we get two outstanding performances by Christian Bale and Russell Crowe. If you didn’t already know that both actors are from the United Kingdom; (Bale is from Wales, Crowe Australia), you would never know as they slip effortlessly into the western backdrop.
Another pointless remake it is not, as the original was never regarded as anything other than a classic B-movie, a minor classic at the most extreme; a fine film to be sure, but released in 1957; enough time has passed to see a different interpretation.
For my money, Director James Mangold, (“Walk the Line”) has done a fantastic job in creating his own take. The dialogue crackles with atmosphere and authenticity with all eyes aimed at Crowe and Bale as two sides of the same coin. In an effort to pay off his debts, Dan Evans (Bale) takes the job of escorting Ben Wade (Crowe) to the prison train, “3:10 to Yuma”; Wade’s gang has other ideas as they thwart their trip. A fairly straight-forward story is elevated by one thing- the charisma of Crowe; I will confess my non-homosexual man-love for the man as he constantly shows his range and appeal, which results from him not being afraid of being a guy’s guy. Recent action movie stars and males in the culture in general, have been neutered and turned into whiny mealy-mouthed wimps that Crowe’s machismo is a breath of fresh air. He possess an old-fashioned presence that could easily sit along side Wayne, Bogart, McQueen, Bronson and Eastwood, all macho movie stars that were never afraid of being themselves and had just as many female fans for the same reason.
Despite my espousing of Crowe love, Bale is no slouch either, playing the good western guy can sometimes backfire and come off as dull, (Yes, you heard me, Gary Cooper in “High Noon!”) not here, he’s a decent hardworking guy, a wounded civil war vet doing the best he can to provide for his wife and two sons.
The interesting dynamic for the remake that was not in the original, (as it had mostly taunting between good and bad guy) is the interaction between Evans and Wade who grow to respect each other, with slight shades of envy. Evan’s sentiment stems from fear at first as we gradually see his distaste for guns and conflict, but as the journey becomes hard, they soon begin exchanging jokes, philosophy and booze. Wade never seems to lose his rakish smile, as he knows he’s winning Evan’s respect, although he seems to enjoy himself as a bank robber, he envies Evans for having a beautiful wife and family. Evans seems to want Wade’s strength; his autonomy is captivating for a guy trapped under a mountain of debt with a son who, at first, doesn’t respect him.
Not a terribly original in action or narrative, but the acting by two superstars and the western milieu make this a must see.
The Brave One
A modern take on “Death Wish” Jodi Foster’s new flick offers many politically loaded questions that will permeate the discussions afterwards. The movie’s denouncement is something I didn’t expect from a liberal-minded gal like Foster, which, to her credit proves why she continues to do stellar work she knows a good role regardless of her political views.
This is a one of best performances as she struggles with something most of us, thank God will probably never have to deal with by reaching inside herself showing off her trademark riveting intensity.
We meet Erica Bain (Foster) and her fiancé, David as they are preparing for their wedding, then a walk with their dog through Central Park. They are accosted by four thugs, the finance is beaten and killed, and Foster is beaten into a coma for three weeks. She awakens to find out her David’s family has already buried him and that the thugs have yet to be caught. She visits the police station for several weeks after only to hear the same thing.
We’ve seen all this before, but Foster’s performance, thanks to Director Neil Jordon (Crying Game, Interview with a Vampire) keeps it all together, she does a nicely modulated emotional turn, never going for the easy, Lifetime-movie-of-the-week, teary moments. You root for her because she tries to be strong, she tries to do the right thing, but as she’s pushed to the brink while the police drag their feet through a legal morass, we support her as she takes the law in her own hands. Some will react to her actions with disgust, but I found myself cheering her on.
Yes, she may have violated everything we, as a society stand for, yet you could not help but feel her raw, soul-crushing pain. Terrance Howard as Det. Mercer continues to come into his own as one of the most interesting actors working today. He deals with his own pain and slowly he connects with Erica, a flirtation is established as Bain continues her cleanup of the scumbags and creeps towards an inevitable nervous breakdown. The films final moments surprised me, I didn’t think it would take the route it did, but I applaud it. After all it’s only a movie, yet one with a finger to point at the current over-liberalized legal system that more often than not gives too much support for the perpetrators instead of the victims.
As I walked out of the theater I asked myself, if put in her situation knowing the results beforehand, would I do what she did? You damn right I would!