2008 Woodie Awards
3:10 to Yuma makes outlaws cool again
Film puts modern twist on classic Western shoot-'em-up
Jordan Greif
Issue date: 9/18/07 Section: Detour
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3:10 to Yuma is a rollicking, break-neck, modern Western that brings fresh vision and perspective to a tried and true genre. Director James Mangold (Walk the Line, Identity) revives this classic chase story, based on the short by Elmore Leonard, with a strong cast led by stars Russell Crowe and Christian Bale.
3:10 is set in the American Southwest a few short years after the Civil War. Don't let the serene plateaus and big skies of eastern Arizona fool you, this movie packs plenty of heart thumping, adrenaline charged scenes. The action sequences usually come from the Western genre's traditional bag of tricks, with lots of horseback chases amid hails of bullets. However, superb acting and a compelling story line keep 3:10 taut and enjoyable throughout the chaos.
The plot centers on two seemingly incompatible characters, the evil outlaw boss Ben Wade and the poor farmer caught in the crossfire, Dan Evans (played by Crowe and Bale respectively). Wade is the head honcho of the meanest posse in the Old West, and Crowe captures him perfectly. He's the stuff of frontier dime store legend: a mean hombre in a black hat who quotes Proverbs before dispatching his enemies with a cursed pistol nicknamed by local lawmen "The Hand of God." Bale's performance as Dan Evans is every bit as passionate though far more understated, and for good reason. Evans is a debt addled Arizona rancher who has a pegged leg (courtesy of his service in Grant's militia during the War). Local thugs backed by the railroad find several less-than-subtle ways to encourage his relocation so the tracks can come through his farmland. When the railroad goons come in the middle of the night to burn down Evan's lone barn, his grain and his confidence are robbed from him. When he stumbles upon Wade after a heist, Evans sets out to prove himself a capable and loyal family man. He agrees to help transport Wade to jail in exchange for the railroad company absolving his debt.
The greatest strengths of this film lie in its fine ensemble cast. Ben Foster (X-Men 3) gives a maniacal turn as Charlie Prince, a former Southern officer who serves as Wade's ruthless second in command. Crowe shines as he captures the essence of the frontier bandit, but also manages to illuminate the human side of his dynamic character with dry humor. Bale's performance swells as the movie progresses, at first demure and mild mannered, he transforms into a full fledged onslaught as he regains a sense of purpose and confidence in his life.
Another strong point of the film is the complex rapport between Wade and Evans that ensues as they ride on to meet their fates. The two men realize that they stand on much more common ground than either would like to admit. There's even a morality tale or two (gasp!) mixed in with the six shooters and stunning landscapes.
This movie moved at a breathless pace. All the scenes, from the daring chases to the saloon shoot-'em-ups and the campfire revelations, were carefully shot and executed. My one major reservation rests in the ending, which I found improbable. The final scene failed to flow as smoothly as the rest of the film, feeling more like an afterthought.
Still, strong performances, clever writing, and seamless execution kept this modern Western bloodbath poignant and made for a worthwhile night at the movies.
3:10 is set in the American Southwest a few short years after the Civil War. Don't let the serene plateaus and big skies of eastern Arizona fool you, this movie packs plenty of heart thumping, adrenaline charged scenes. The action sequences usually come from the Western genre's traditional bag of tricks, with lots of horseback chases amid hails of bullets. However, superb acting and a compelling story line keep 3:10 taut and enjoyable throughout the chaos.
The plot centers on two seemingly incompatible characters, the evil outlaw boss Ben Wade and the poor farmer caught in the crossfire, Dan Evans (played by Crowe and Bale respectively). Wade is the head honcho of the meanest posse in the Old West, and Crowe captures him perfectly. He's the stuff of frontier dime store legend: a mean hombre in a black hat who quotes Proverbs before dispatching his enemies with a cursed pistol nicknamed by local lawmen "The Hand of God." Bale's performance as Dan Evans is every bit as passionate though far more understated, and for good reason. Evans is a debt addled Arizona rancher who has a pegged leg (courtesy of his service in Grant's militia during the War). Local thugs backed by the railroad find several less-than-subtle ways to encourage his relocation so the tracks can come through his farmland. When the railroad goons come in the middle of the night to burn down Evan's lone barn, his grain and his confidence are robbed from him. When he stumbles upon Wade after a heist, Evans sets out to prove himself a capable and loyal family man. He agrees to help transport Wade to jail in exchange for the railroad company absolving his debt.
The greatest strengths of this film lie in its fine ensemble cast. Ben Foster (X-Men 3) gives a maniacal turn as Charlie Prince, a former Southern officer who serves as Wade's ruthless second in command. Crowe shines as he captures the essence of the frontier bandit, but also manages to illuminate the human side of his dynamic character with dry humor. Bale's performance swells as the movie progresses, at first demure and mild mannered, he transforms into a full fledged onslaught as he regains a sense of purpose and confidence in his life.
Another strong point of the film is the complex rapport between Wade and Evans that ensues as they ride on to meet their fates. The two men realize that they stand on much more common ground than either would like to admit. There's even a morality tale or two (gasp!) mixed in with the six shooters and stunning landscapes.
This movie moved at a breathless pace. All the scenes, from the daring chases to the saloon shoot-'em-ups and the campfire revelations, were carefully shot and executed. My one major reservation rests in the ending, which I found improbable. The final scene failed to flow as smoothly as the rest of the film, feeling more like an afterthought.
Still, strong performances, clever writing, and seamless execution kept this modern Western bloodbath poignant and made for a worthwhile night at the movies.