3:10 to Yuma
In Arizona in the late 1800s, infamous outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) and his vicious gang of thieves and murderers have plagued the Southern Railroad. When Wade is captured, Civil War veteran Dan Evans (Christian Bale), struggling to survive on his drought-plagued ranch, volunteers to deliver him alive to the "3:10 to Yuma", a train that will take the killer to trial. On the trail, Evans and Wade, each from very different worlds, begin to earn each other’s respect. But with Wade’s outfit on their trail - and dangers at every turn - the mission soon becomes a violent, impossible journey toward each man's destiny.
Member Reviews
Good Western - DaxKP
I was hesitant to watch this film as I am not into the whole western idea, but I was surprised by how much I actually enjoyed it. It had a good story, enough action to be interesting but not overly done, and the actors all did good jobs. My only issue with it was that I found the ending to be a little stupid and illogical. Other than the ending, the rest of the movie was great! Worth the rent.The great western returns! - pignap
I have never been a fan of westerns, and i have always disliked Russell Crowe. UNTIL NOW.
This film focuses on the story of a man (Christian Bale) in need of money and achievement, who volunteers himself to get a prisoner (Russell Crowe) to jail by getting him to the train station for the 3:20 train to Yuma. While this is going on, there are a group of people trying to retrieve their boss before he gets on the train. This group is led by the magnificent Ben Foster.
The film features some fantastic acting. The actor that shines the most in this film is Ben Foster (The Messenger, Six Feet Under. Other actors that do a great job include Bale and Crowe. The films story starts out a little slow and confusing, but it quickly picks up and becomes a tense and exciting movie.
Any western fan will love this movie and it will also be loved by any fan of Foster and Crowe.
89/100An old fashioned modern western - Icecube
I saw this film last night at a preview in the lead up to the Toronto International Film Festival. Having never been a big western fan (with a few exceptions - Shane, High Noon, The Wild Bunch) and having been rather indifferent to Walking The Line, James Mangold's last directorial effort, my expectations were modest, despite the hype that the film has received. But I was duly impressed. The action and tension remain constant throughout but, more importantly, the plot is compelling and the acting is terrific. No doubt many will be impressed by Ben Foster's affected performance as Russell Crowe's loyal but psychopathic sidekick (think Johnny Depp in the Pirate movies) but to my taste it was much too over the top in a cast that offered a number of subtle and well thought out performances.
Russell Crowe is brilliant as the arrogant, amoral outlaw Ben Wade and Christian Bales infuses his role as a beleaguered rancher and Civil War veteran with just the right mix of pathos and dignity. Iy was wonderful to see Peter Fonda be given a role in which he was allowed to demonstrate his genuine talent, much too long hidden away. In my view, though, it is Logan Lerman who most deserves the accolades that will certainly come his way. He plays Bales' teenage son who comes of age in the course of the film. Initially disillusioned with a father whom he sees as drudge and a failure, he eventually recognizes his father as the hero he is (or at least becomes).
Cinematically, this film ranks up there with the best westerns of all time. It is consistently beautiful to watch and captures the expanse and majesty of the American west as well as any movie I've ever seen.
In many respects this is a traditional western (it is a remake, after all). They really don't make movies like this much anymore and it will be interesting to see whether it finds an audience in this era of dumbed down teen comedies and quirky slices of dysfunctional modern life. I wish it well.
Member Reviews
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Good Western - DaxKP
I was hesitant to watch this film as I am not into the whole western idea, but I was surprised by how much I actually enjoyed it. It had a good story, enough action to be interesting but not overly done, and the actors all did good jobs. My only issue with ...The great western returns! - pignap
I have never been a fan of westerns, and i have always disliked Russell Crowe. UNTIL NOW.
This film focuses on the story of a man (Christian Bale) in need of money and achievement, who volunteers himself to get a prisoner (Russell Crowe) to jail by ...An old fashioned modern western - Icecube
I saw this film last night at a preview in the lead up to the Toronto International Film Festival. Having never been a big western fan (with a few exceptions - Shane, High Noon, The Wild Bunch) and having been rather indifferent to Walking The Line, James ...