Joe Kidd
Joe Kidd, which concerns a land war in New Mexico at the turn of the century, marks Clint Eastwood at the top of his form as a western hero. Filmed in 1971, the classic backdrop of the High Sierras, the top-notch acting skills of Robert Duvall and the rugged Eastwood as a "hired gun" who takes action based on his own particular sense of justice. And like a very classic western, it has gunfights, conflicts, and a slam-bang finale which has a locomotive being driven through a saloon where the bad guys are hiding.
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Kidd Eastwood - MovieProf
1971 had been a good year for Clint Eastwood: he enthralled audiences with the first “Dirty Harry” film, and also directed for the first time, with “Play Misty for Me.” In 1972, he returned to old form, in the guise of a Western hero, in “Joe Kidd.” However, the results are less than spectacular.
Up until that time, Eastwood had starred in several highly successful Westerns: “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” “Fistful of Dollars,” and “Hang ‘em High” were all strong entries to the genre. With “Joe Kidd,” however, while Eastwood is good, the film itself is rather simplistic, as evidenced by its meagre 89- minute length.
Eastwood plays Kidd, a former bounty who has become a regular law-breaker and drunk. However, when a Mexican named Luis Chama (John Saxon) begins a revolution in the area, Kidd is asked to tag along a group of bounty hunters led by the wealthy Frank Harlan (Robert Duvall). Although he initially resists, eventually Kidd joins the group, only to realise the side he is on may not be the right one.
The action is well-executed, and the cinematography beautiful, but the problem here is the lack of character depth. Far more on Kidd would have helped. We know his basic past, but that’s about it; there is no flesh to his bones. The same with Chama: where is his back-story? Even Harlan could use more fleshing out.
All in all, this is not a terrible film, but when compared to others in the genre Eastwood has acted in, it does fall short.Clint does it again - Chucky
I know, I know, another Eastwood speghetti western. This one though has a lot of elements that the usual smart assed cowboy doesn't usually have. For one, he starts off a prisoner, for another he keps showing up Lamar that just tries his best to be as smart assed as Clint, now that just aint right ans Clint illustrates vthat by dumping the haplass murauder down a flight of stairs and smashing his teeth in with the butt of a rifle. If you're looing for culture don't look at Clint but if you want roughneck fun this one has itAn overall bland western - Opinheimer
Normally, chances are very good that when you put Clint Eastwood in a western that the end result will be something highly entertaining. Unfortunately, Joe Kidd does not follow that formula. It is a weak entry in the genre, suffering from tepid direction, an uninteresting, simple plot, poorly fleshed out characters, and wooden acting. Even Eastwood's trademark intensity is missing here, as he essentially sleepwalks through the film. It seems that nobody in the entire cast and crew had any confidence in this film and it tends to show on screen.
As uninspired as Joe Kidd is, it does however contain a few classic scenes, such as when Eastwood violently pulls a man by the belt, sending him tumbling down a flight of stairs, and when he swings a large clay vase like a pendulum from a church tower and smashes it on the head of an unknowing enemy keeping watch below.
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Kidd Eastwood - MovieProf
1971 had been a good year for Clint Eastwood: he enthralled audiences with the first “Dirty Harry” film, and also directed for the first time, with “Play Misty for Me.” In 1972, he returned to old form, in the guise of a Western hero, in “Joe Kidd.” However, ...Clint does it again - Chucky
I know, I know, another Eastwood speghetti western. This one though has a lot of elements that the usual smart assed cowboy doesn't usually have. For one, he starts off a prisoner, for another he keps showing up Lamar that just tries his best to be as smart ...An overall bland western - Opinheimer
Normally, chances are very good that when you put Clint Eastwood in a western that the end result will be something highly entertaining. Unfortunately, Joe Kidd does not follow that formula. It is a weak entry in the genre, suffering from tepid direction, ...