3:10 to Yuma

[Bourne101]

http://www.cinemablend.com/images/news_img/6099/6099.jpg

Directed by James Mangold

Genre: Western

Tagline: Time waits for one man

Plot Outline: A small-time rancher agrees to hold a captured outlaw who's awaiting a train to go to court in Yuma. A battle of wills ensues as the outlaw tries to psych out the rancher.

Starring: Christian Bale, Chris Browning, Chad Brummett, Russell Crowe, Peter Fonda and Ben Foster

Rated R for violence and some language.

Runtime: 117 minutes

I haven't seen a good western in a long old time, so I am looking forward to seeing if this can meet my standards for a western... and yes that means I didn't like The Proposition or Open Range.

[Scarfather]

Doesn't look nearly as good as the original, but I'll see it out of blind hope.

[NightStalkerGtx]

I'm there opening weekend. Looks fantastic.

Bale.
Crowe.
Guns.

[MisterChristian]

Yeah can't wait.

Bale.
Crowe.
Fonda.
Foster.
Guns.

[daddiefatsacks]

yeah im excited to see this, and Ben Foster as another nutjob

[ilovemovies]

Looks terrific.

But I hope Ben Foster dials it down this time as oppose to his over the top turn in Alpha Dog.

[bigred760]

I cannot wait to see this puppy; that cast in a freakin' western . . . hell yeah!!

[HHH123007]

Looking forward to it. The Western genre is one I always keep tabs on, and this one looks to deliver something with the promise of action and good acting.

I will totally be checking it out in theaters.

[Le_Big_Mac]

The trailers make the movie look good, but I'll hold out for the reviews until I decide to see it. I may want to see the original first also, for comparison's sake.

[athf1980]

I will be defently seeing this movie if it comes where I live

[ilovemovies]

Woo-hoo! There is a sneak preview this Sunday so I'll definitely be there. Can't wait. :cool:

[Moviefan02000]

Originally posted by athf1980
I will be defently seeing this movie if it comes where I live

It will be in 2500+ theaters, so I don't know why it wouldn't. ;)

[RandalGraves]

Cannot wait! I'm there either sunday or opening day!

[MisterChristian]

I *need* to know if this is playing in Toronto Sunday? Anyone? :)

[psycheoutsteve]

So this is a remake? Huh...I like it when you find interest in a new film that you didn't even know was a remake. That's when you know it's time for a retelling of an old story. With Bale and Crowe on board you can count me in!

[Shockwave]

Im always interested in a good looking western. This one on the other hand, looks incredible. Im really digging the cast and director.

[Monotreme]

Great cast. Great director. Classic, generally dead genre which will be getting somewhat of a "revival" this year with this and The Assassination of Jesse James. I wonder if it will stick like Gladiator's revival of the sword-and-sandal epic stuck. Either way, this film looks absolutely fantastic, well-made, visceral and visually stunning. I can't WAIT to see this sucker.

[daddiefatsacks]

Originally posted by MisterChristian
I *need* to know if this is playing in Toronto Sunday? Anyone? :)

its playing at the Paramount (now Scotiabank theatre or whatever) at 7

[MisterChristian]

Yeah just saw this:


Coliseum Scarborough (Cineplex)
300 Borough Dr. (McCowan Rd.), Toronto
Sun: 7:00

Interchange 30 (AMC)
30 Interchange Way, Concord
Sun: 7:30

Queensway (Cineplex)
1025 The Queensway, Toronto
Sun: 7:00

Scotiabank Theatre Toronto (Cineplex)
259 Richmond St. W. (John St.), Toronto
Sun: 7:00

Silvercity Burlington (Cineplex)
1250 Brant St. (North Service Rd.), Burlington
Sun: 7:00

Silvercity Yonge & Eglinton (Cineplex)
2300 Yonge St. (Yonge & Eglinton Centre), Toronto
Sun: 7:00

Whitby 24 (AMC)
75 Consumers Dr. (Hwy 401 & Thickson Rd.), Whitby
Sun: 7:30

Winston Churchill 24 (AMC)
2081 Winston Park Dr., Oakville
Sun: 7:30

[daddiefatsacks]

AMC 24 Oakville for me baby!!

[TylerDurden182]

Just got my tickets for the sneak peak tomorrow night at 7:30. Can't fuckin' wait, looks fantastic.

[MisterChristian]

I was going to AMC as well, but I'm sticking here in town - Burlington.

[fooknasty]

I have been waiting for this movie forever!!! Crowe and Bale in the same movie kicking ass..........SWEET!!!!

[manowar]

I just saw it at a sneek preview. I thought it was great. Bale and Crowe delivered spectacular performances as expected, but I was particularly blown away by Ben Foster's performance. Mangold's directing was spot on. I absolutely loved this movie. Truly a great film. 9/10

[ilovemovies]

Pretty good movie. Crowe and Russell are great. As are the entire supporting cast. The scene leading up to the final climatic gun fight were pretty intense and suspenseful. The movie looked gorgeous. It'll definitely be nominated for best cinematography at the oscars. That's for sure. Possibly for it's art direction too. The shootout was good but I actually enjoyed the movie more during the rest of it. I really liked the slow, deliberate pace. And the scenes between the characters as they travel to the city. Those to me were the best parts of the movie.

Overall, I wouldn't rank it up there with Mangold's best but it's a very solid effort nonetheless.


7/10

[TylerDurden182]

3:10 to Yuma- 9/10

Best western in a while. The performances are all great, from the badass Russell Crowe, to the somber Christian Bale, all the way down to bat shit crazy eyes Ben Foster. I've been meaning to see the original and now I definantly will check it out soon.

[Lazy Boy]

7/10

I wasn't blown away (so to speak), but it's as solid a Western as Open Range, while never reaching the levels of the greats. Russell Crowe and Christian Bale are great -- they have a Butch and Sundance level of chemistry, although a little mixture of somber seriousness meshed with aloof badassery. I was a little worried that Foster's baddie would be as over the top as his performance in Alpha Dog, but he toned it down a little bit, if that says anything, to create a terrific villain.

[Mr.HyDe807]

Sweet, these posititve reviews are really upping my anticipation fo this movie. im there Friday!

[dreamcurls]

this film is on my most anticipated film list for this month.
i cannot wait. I really like Ben Foster, I was pumped when I saw him in the trailer.
I'm really glad Russell Crowe's back on the sceene in this and I can't wait to see him in American Gangster.

[Raztt]

seen it sunday at sneak preview.
9/10 only cause there is no such thing as a perfect movie, but this comes damn close.

i've only seen the first half of the old one and it seems they changed some orign stories, like bales character was a civil war vet and has an injured leg. and they added some characters it seems, also some conditions are slightly different, the changes are for the better. i guess its just the difference of story telling from then and now.

[movieme07]

Looks to be pretty good. Between this and Rescue Dawn hopefully Christian Bale will at least get an Oscar nod this year.

[Scorpio24]

I'm looking forward to seeing this. It's getting mixed reveiws among critics mind you. The main gripe is that it could and maybe should have been better with the talent available.

[JCPhoenix]

Saw it at a sneak peak as well on Sunday...unfortunately, as we currently don't have internet (won't until next Friday now apparently cause of our terrible ISP :S), I didn't get a chance to write my thoughts about it till now (using university computers)...

In any case, I was pretty pumped for the movie and...it was decent but not a great film in my opinion. Crowe rocks his role especially but the movie has too much dead time in the middle and nearly put me to sleep. Fortunately, it gets back into form and the last 30 minutes are pretty great stuff. Crowe's motivations in the film feel a bit sketchy (he seems to just go along with it cause he's amused by the whole thing, at least for the first two-thirds of the film) but nonetheless, the movie definitely has its share of great moments.

I've been finding it a hard film to rate but I'd go with a 6-7, leaning more towards the 6. Good but not as good as Walk the Line (7/10) or Identity (8/10). As far as recent Westerns go, I'd put both The Proposition and Open Range far ahead of this one.

[lennyd43]

Do they show "Jesse James" trailer as preview?

[franky4fingerz]

no jesse james trailer but this movie was great. one of the best of the year
9/10

[Arlius]

No Jesse James trailer and no There Will Be Blood (which was rumored to be with this), so bummer. Of course, Lionsgate had to get in their Saw IV trailer. There was also National Treasure II and American Gangster plus one or two others.

[athf1980]

4.5/5

The best western since Tombstone. Bale and Crowe were great in their roles. Great score also. Some good shooting also. Ben Foster was good as Charlies Prince

[jbar1026]

Originally posted by athf1980
4.5/5

The best western since Tombstone. Bale and Crowe were great in their roles. Great score also. Some good shooting also. Ben Foster was good as Charlies Prince

agreed

[bowieee]

I haven't seen a movie with this much depth in a loooong time. THis movie brings it to the plate on all counts. The story is masterfully woven in two of the most complex characters I've seen in film for awhile. What was sweet was how the previews really didn't give much away.

9.5/10

[movieme07]

This movie just blew me away. The cast was all on top of their game, particularly Ben Foster and Christian bale (although I always love Bale), the script was excellent and for once I actually really enjoyed Marco Beltrami's score. Mangold's really turning in some great work lately between this and Walk the Line.

10/10

Note: I was hoping for Jesse James and There Will Be Blood trailers as well, in addition to No Country for Old Men and Southland Tales (which may not have actually been released yet), but I did see the Green Band trailer for Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem which was actually pretty good. Once you slow the pace down the creatures look pretty good and there's some nice use of "Silent Night".

[psycheoutsteve]

This movie is solid, but other than a few cool developments with the lead characters and the shoot-out scenes it seems like a fairly average western. I don't know what happened, but the film only managed to slightly captivate me and never really elevated itself to a level of sheer brilliance. Crowe and Bale were excellent in this film, but I'm still unsure how I feel about Foster as the lead henchmen. Foster kind of came off as a 14 year old with extremely manly facial hair and a knack for sharp-shooting. He did give a good performance though.

I did like how this film was able to transcend many western movie cliches, but the tension and conflict never quite reached the levels i hoped for. Maybe I need to see this film again so I can give it a better rating, but for now I just think it's a solid film. 7.5/10

[chinton]

I really dont see whats so great about this movie. Dont get me wrong I enjoyed but its a very traditional and conventional Western that was a little bit too long. It never does anything that special or totally outside a normal Western. I enjoyed it but I didnt think it was all the great. Bale and Crowe were great in it and we're in fact better than the film deserved.

7/10

[anakinsrise]

3:10 to Yuma is the best western i have seen since 2003's Open Range.
To watch Russell Crowe as Ben Wade slyly work a room and get a rise out of men and women is a joy to watch.Even when he's captured Wade still smiles as if he's on a camping trip with the boys.Even those that know of and warn others of his charming and cunning ways fall into his trap.There is such a quiet cool to his character,that your shocked when suddenly turns violent.Christian Bale continues to amaze me as a man caught between a rock and a hard place,willing to do anything to keep his land and gain the respect of his family.Ben Foster turns in another intense performance as the relentlessly loyal and sadisitic Charlie Prince.Peter Fonda is also a standout as the world weary and leathery bounty hunter Byron McElroy.
Scale of 1-10 a 9

[jaw2929]

Originally posted by athf1980
4.5/5

The best western since Tombstone. Bale and Crowe were great in their roles. Great score also. Some good shooting also. Ben Foster was good as Charlies Prince

Absolutely agreed, this movie was fucking fantastic! :)

[gyro_44]

Really solid western, I thought Crowe was badass (of course) and Bale was also very good (as usual) and the two had me invested in the fate of their characters by the end. One is a thieving outlaw and the other is a wannabe rancher trying to make an honest living who's been walked over his entire life. Nice to see filmmakers explore character dynamics for a change. I agree with some, there is a bit much stalling in the middle, but I think what seperates this from the rest is the last 30 minutes and the developments that happen. We get a pretty tense shootout, and a note-perfect ending in my opinion. I really liked what developed with Crowe and Bale. This had me thinking after seeing it, always a good sign to me.

Ben Foster is also extremely cool in this (a first maybe?) and Mangold's direction (along with art direction) is top-drawer, you can practically taste the dusty desert while watching.

There's also one sort of odd cameo in the middle, a face I didn't expect to see.

A high 7 or maybe an 8, barring a second viewing.

[Cop No. 633]

3:10 to Yuma is a film of true grit. I was a little skeptical at first because I felt it didn't move like a western. Things were happening too fast until finally after a twenty minutes, the film went into second gear and slowed down and I enjoyed that quite a lot. There's a pace about westerns that I love because you don't get that in other films. Most films try to rush by as as it gets going, but westerns just kind of settle in place and let you absorb the characters and setting and mood. This film did that perfectly. You get to know Ben Wade and Dan Evans a lot and by the time you get to the end, you have an ending that's just as dramatic as the Wild Bunch. It wouldn't have been as sweet without that middle which is why i love westerns in particular... the rights one get the pace of the desert... things move slowly out there, so the stories usually reflect that well.

The scene I really loved was when Wade stabs the annoying Tucker in the throat. You don't see it happen, but you hear it and then you see the aftermath with Peter Fonda beating the shit out of Russell Crowe. That was a real standout moment for me, as well as the ending which was how all westerns should end.

I'd say Mangold made a great film to add to the genre.

9/10

[Cronos]

It was ok, the acting was good and the last 20 minutes were great but the buildup to it didn't do much for me. Can't say i'm really surprised though since i've never really been a fan of westerns.

6/10

[ilovemovies]

Am I the only one who preferred the character scenes to the action scenes?

I've seen some surprising amount of people say they love the last twenty minutes but seemed to be underwhelmed by the buildup. I feel the exact opposite.

[I Am Legend]

:::SPOILER ALERT:::


I loved the first hour of this film but felt that the climax was a huge let down.

I don’t think it made much sense for Crowe, who is supposed to be a badass killer, to let Bale bring him to the train just so he could impress his kid. And if you’re going to do that, why not just tell your gang to not shoot? And then Crowe gets pissed when his gang does shoot Bale?

I think the plot would have worked much better had Crowe screwed over his gang after the robbery at the beginning and that they were coming after him to kill him before he was put on that train. It would have made more sense for Bale and Crowe to team together in the end, at least in my opinion.

6.5/10 (because of the last 20 minutes of the film)

[Cop No. 633]

Originally posted by ilovemovies
Am I the only one who preferred the character scenes to the action scenes?

I've seen some surprising amount of people say they love the last twenty minutes but seemed to be underwhelmed by the buildup. I feel the exact opposite.

I felt the same way, well almost... I really liked the ending only because I enjoyed the middle so much. I think this film was made very much like an old fashioned western... the heart of those films are always in the quiet moments between the characters whether they're outlaws, cowboys, marshals or ranchers.

As for the ending, I felt it worked appropriately because the entire film for Crowe's Ben Wade was a purgatory of sorts. Despite being caught, it gave him a lot of time to think over his life. You could tell he was filled with a lot of regret especially when he's with Emmy. You could just see he would've given everything up just to live there with her... he wanted to do one good thing before he died, not in a superficial way, but to do his only friend a favor. I think that's why the ending works because it's about them building a friendship that Wade never felt before. Charlie Prince was only a lacky with an unhealthy fixation for Ben whereas Dan was his equal for lack of a better word and showed him a respect he never got from anybody else. So the only logical way he could pay back Dan was to help him. It had to go out in bullets because this is a western after all... if there was no bloodshed, people would've felt ripped off. I think also the reason Ben never tells them not to shoot is to make Dan more heroic... he gave him that final battle he should have had in the Civil War and his son was able to witness it. I personally really enjoyed the ending. I think it wouldn't have been as good had Ben's goons been going after him to kill him... the ending just wouldn't have been as dramatic. When Ben shot all his guys down, it felt genuine, like when you have to shoot a dog who goes rabid. Ben realized he created monsters out of these kids, especially Charlie, so he had to put them down. I felt it was one of the most satisfying endings I've seen in a while. You get a downer ending with a somewhat happy one at the same time. I find that pretty rare these days.

[I Am Legend]

[Originally posted by CosmicPuppet [/i]
I felt the same way, well almost... I really liked the ending only because I enjoyed the middle so much. I think this film was made very much like an old fashioned western... the heart of those films are always in the quiet moments between the characters whether they're outlaws, cowboys, marshals or ranchers.

As for the ending, I felt it worked appropriately because the entire film for Crowe's Ben Wade was a purgatory of sorts. Despite being caught, it gave him a lot of time to think over his life. You could tell he was filled with a lot of regret especially when he's with Emmy. You could just see he would've given everything up just to live there with her... he wanted to do one good thing before he died, not in a superficial way, but to do his only friend a favor. I think that's why the ending works because it's about them building a friendship that Wade never felt before. Charlie Prince was only a lacky with an unhealthy fixation for Ben whereas Dan was his equal for lack of a better word and showed him a respect he never got from anybody else. So the only logical way he could pay back Dan was to help him. It had to go out in bullets because this is a western after all... if there was no bloodshed, people would've felt ripped off. I think also the reason Ben never tells them not to shoot is to make Dan more heroic... he gave him that final battle he should have had in the Civil War and his son was able to witness it. I personally really enjoyed the ending. I think it wouldn't have been as good had Ben's goons been going after him to kill him... the ending just wouldn't have been as dramatic. When Ben shot all his guys down, it felt genuine, like when you have to shoot a dog who goes rabid. Ben realized he created monsters out of these kids, especially Charlie, so he had to put them down. I felt it was one of the most satisfying endings I've seen in a while. You get a downer ending with a somewhat happy one at the same time. I find that pretty rare these days.

I like your interpretation of the ending but I don't feel it came off like that at all, nor did I feel that Ben and Dan grew a strong bond.

I wish it had come across as you described it though because that would have been a helluva ending.

[dannywalker17]

Originally posted by bowieee
What was sweet was how the previews really didn't give much away.

Yeah, they really did abstain from giving away much plot, which is great because Mangold did such a good job telling the story and letting it unfold a little at a time, until we know--only in the final moments--the true motivations of the main characters. I thought that, along with stellar acting made for a great film and much better than I expected. I'm glad to see it getting such great reviews from critics and schmoes alike.

8/10 or A-

[Max Cady]

10/10

Just got back from seeing this, I hopped around to a few other flicks but glad I seen this first. Better than The Lookout, movie of the year so far. One of the best films I've ever seen

Must see!
2 thumbs way up!

[navarr0]

i have to admit, seeing Vinessa Shaw kicking a soccer ball to laying down half naked in a bed with a sheet covering her, is a pretty damn awesome, when i first saw Ladybugs, i fell in love, and seeing her casted in this film, made me want to watch it a whole lot more.

The movie was excellent, but I liked Shoot Em up better, not way better, but better.

[travisvornoff]

this is a movie where everything just comes together and you get blown away. there hasnt been a film in the theater this well made in a long time. a great western. i loved every second of it. 9.5/10.

[RandalGraves]

Originally posted by travisvornoff
this is a movie where everything just comes together and you get blown away. there hasnt been a film in the theater this well made in a long time. a great western. i loved every second of it. 9.5/10.

Yea that basically sums it up! It was the best western I've ever seen and one of my all time fav flicks! 9/10

[bigred760]

This remake to 3:10 to Yuma benefits from a great story and great characters. A desperate for money farmer agrees to help transport a captured killer to a train station. What ensues is a pretty cool mind game between the criminal and the farmer. The farmer is played by Christian Bale, an honorable man but lacks the respect from his wife and son. The villain is Russel Crowe; a likeable scoundrel who is as sadistic as he is clever. Together, the two of them lead a cool western that has enough action, character drama, and an ending that is both exciting and unexpected.

If there is one person that steals the show, it's Ben Foster's Charlie Prince - Crowe's right hand man and the gunfighter who's trying to free his boss. This was one scary mofo because he was ruthless in his killing and obviously knew how to handle a six-shooter. Other actors to appear in the movie that helped it along were Peter Fonda, Gretchen Mol, and a cameo by Luke Wilson. But it's Bale and Crowe that play off each other best; you feel for Bale's misfortunes and intentions but you can't help but find Crowe cool as hell. He toys with Bale and his other captors and he enjoys every minute of it.

I think it's safe to say that westerns are my favorite genre in all of movies. I own my fair share on DVD and while this one is basically a western because of the time period - it doesn't share many of the themes of most westerns and doesn't brag any spectacular scenery or cinematographery, it does deliver some great performances, exciting action, and some pretty suprising moments throughout.

8/10

[notchreturns]

The two main leads were wonderfully written.

That's all.

8/10.

[corran horn]

Just saw it and thoroughly enjoyed it. Bale and Crowe are in fine form (as just about everyone else has noted) and Foster (whom i recall from his days on the Disney Channel's "Flash forward") is delightfully insane, and the other character actors round out a top-notch cast.

One thing that creeped me out was that menacing glare Charlie Prince gave as the stage coach burned and the fire flashed in his eyes. i don't know about you, but that made me shiver. BTW, is it just me or does Alan Tudyk (Doc Potter) look a LOT like a young Robert redford (at least facially).

Two things seemed out of place: a certain cameo appearance which, while fun to see, didn't serve much useful purpose; and Dallas Roberts' character's mustache--I know it's a little thing to get hung up on, but that 'stache looked completely fake.

Other than that, a top-notch Western and a great opening for the fall prestige films.

9/10

[Bourne101]

Going to see it on Monday. Can't wait!

[Bourne101]

3:10 to Yuma - 9/10

I really want to give this a 10/10, I really, really want to. But I'm trying to hold back on giving so many tens by trying to be more reasonable. I will need to have a couple of re-watches before I throw a 10 at this insanely awesome movie. The acting is without a doubt the best of any movie so far this year, no question about it... yes, not even Zodiac has better acting. Russel Crowe is on his game, and delivers an excellent and badass performance, as the "I don't give a shit how touching your convorsations with your son are, I'm still gonna kill you both," kinda guy. Christian Bale is excellent as usual. And Ben Foster is really starting to impress me. He has gotten better with every movie he is in, and he is flat out superb in this film. The directing and cinematography is absolutely gorgeous. It should definitely get an oscar nomination in one of those categories, to go along with an acting nom. The action is flat out great and the violence brutal and realistic. The MPAA rating reason makes it sound a little watered down, but don't be fooled, this is a no holds barred, bloody, gunslinging western. One of the best movies of the year, the best western since The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and it is a film that should not be missed by anyone.

[CreeperBEATNGU]

A good redemption story with a character that rivals Maximus as Crowe's coolest performance to date, a great villain performance by Ben Foster too. I like Bale quite a bit but I think Foster stood out more than him in this film.

[I Am Legend]

I’ve liked Ben Foster since I saw Liberty Heights and feel he is definitely underrated. I know some people thought his performance was excessive in Alpha Dog, but I think he nailed the character perfectly, complete with the nervous twitching that is so common among meth heads. It was one of the most memorable characters I’ve seen in the last years.

[Badbird]

I wasn't really too interested in this but was pleasantly surprised. The action stuff was well done - dynamite horse? Awesome. But it was the interaction between Russel Crowe and the rest of the group that really made it compelling.

But I didn't think Bale was anything special. He was very average. Basically playing a variation of his Reign of Fire character. And Ben Foster was a little too hammy.

No, this movie was all about showcasing Russel Crowe. His best performance in a long time.

[bigred760]

Originally posted by Badbird
No, this movie was all about showcasing Russel Crowe. His best performance in a long time.

I agree; his performance was probably the best thing about the movie. While I disagree about Foster and Bale (thought they were great), Crowe seemed to get the most out of his character.

[DepartedLad]

how creepy is ben foster???? he was like the archetype of the Bad Guy. Russell Crowe was more the Bad Guy With Redeeming Qualities; both are hard to pull off well (I think movie villains are almost always more interesting characters than movie heroes) but damn, damn, foster was good. I am scared of that man.

[DOPEY]

this is the best western since tombstone

[pumpkinsfan460]

Saw it this past weekend and couldn't have been happier. Great acting, action scenes, and the music was perfect for it. 9.5/10 one of the best movies I've seen in a long time.

[Crazy Dud]

9/10 for me as well.

The movie nearly flawless - from writing, directing, acting, and, well, EVERYTHING. I HATE the Western genre, but I LOVED this movie. It is full of an uncommon level of depth for the genre and Russel Crowe may have delivered his best performance to date (Bale was amazing as well).

I very highly recommend this film!

[Bufo]

The genre seems like it belongs to a forgotten age, but films like this revive it admirably. It was one solid couple hours of entertainment, and has to rank up there alongside my other all-time favorite westerns --- Vera Cruz, Silverado, Quigley Down Under, and Open Range.

[bigred760]

The genre seems like it belongs to a forgotten age, but films like this revive it admirably. It was one solid couple hours of entertainment, and has to rank up there alongside my other all-time favorite westerns --- Vera Cruz, Silverado, Quigley Down Under, and Open Range.

The western simmered out in the 70s, if not late 60s. It's obvious that it's not completely dead, but they're not nearly as popular or even produced as they were in the days of John Ford, John Wayne, and the 40s, 50s, and 60s.

I like seeing movies like these release that bring back the spirit of the genre.

[miguel_montes]

But I didn't think Bale was anything special. He was very average.

Agreed, but I think it was intentional. His character is just an ordinary guy, but one who loves his family and has a rare sense of duty and honor. And that is where Bale shines. Because we feel that with his sincere acting.


/* SPOILERS*/
Russell Crowe's character also feels that he is a unique person in that lawless world of his, ends up respecting him so much that he willingly goes to the train just for Evans to accomplish what he set out to do, so that his family can receive the money.

An awesome movie, one of the year's best: 8/10.

[smok3h]

Glad I saw the movie first before reading the post above me or the ending would have been ruined. Spoiler warnings dude.

Anyways, this movie was simply amazing. 9/10.

[miguel_montes]

Oops... sorry! Edited.

[rocknblues81]

Saw it at a sneak peak as well on Sunday...unfortunately, as we currently don't have internet (won't until next Friday now apparently cause of our terrible ISP :S), I didn't get a chance to write my thoughts about it till now (using university computers)...

In any case, I was pretty pumped for the movie and...it was decent but not a great film in my opinion. Crowe rocks his role especially but the movie has too much dead time in the middle and nearly put me to sleep. Fortunately, it gets back into form and the last 30 minutes are pretty great stuff. Crowe's motivations in the film feel a bit sketchy (he seems to just go along with it cause he's amused by the whole thing, at least for the first two-thirds of the film) but nonetheless, the movie definitely has its share of great moments.

I've been finding it a hard film to rate but I'd go with a 6-7, leaning more towards the 6. Good but not as good as Walk the Line (7/10) or Identity (8/10). As far as recent Westerns go, I'd put both The Proposition and Open Range far ahead of this one.

This movie was alot better than that pile of junk Open Range.

I think Bale was the best in this movie. Script wise, he wasn't given alot to work with. He made a cliche character easier to root for. Crowe? He was pretty much playing himself as was Ben Foster.

[HoyleHaw]

I never did see the 1957 version, although I had read Elmore Leonard's original story (I highly recommend it).

The performances were strong, and the story is pretty solid any way you shake it. I had two beefs with the movie though. One was I really wish they left out the part where Dan Evans' son comes along, and then I'm not exactly sure how much I bought the ending, although the more I think about it the more I don't care. This went from being the heroic return of the western to just another above-average cowboy movie pretty fast.

6/10

[dmiles23]

I saw this in the theater about 3 weeks ago. I thought it was a great movie. i didn't know what to expect going in but I was excellent.

[rocknblues81]

I never did see the 1957 version, although I had read Elmore Leonard's original story (I highly recommend it).

The performances were strong, and the story is pretty solid any way you shake it. I had two beefs with the movie though. One was I really wish they left out the part where Dan Evans' son comes along, and then I'm not exactly sure how much I bought the ending, although the more I think about it the more I don't care. This went from being the heroic return of the western to just another above-average cowboy movie pretty fast.

6/10

Are you sure you didn't watch a John Wayne movie by mistake?

[Typezer0]

8-9/10

[bigred760]

8-9/10

Too good for words, huh?

[Briare Rabbit]

Am I the only one who preferred the character scenes to the action scenes?

I've seen some surprising amount of people say they love the last twenty minutes but seemed to be underwhelmed by the buildup. I feel the exact opposite.

For perhaps the entire time in the history of my posting here on this board... I agree with you completely. :)

Average film, overall.

[Monotreme]

http://www.coffeecoffeeandmorecoffee.com/archives/%20a%20%20310%20to%20yuma.jpg

As beloved as it is, it cannot be denied that the Western is a dead genre, and for justified reasons. The same all-American clear-as-crystal stark morality of good versus evil that attracted us to the comic book superheroes of the second World War period also drew us to the heroic endeavors of the old American frontiersmen who explored and developed the far west. Ethics in the classic Westerns were simple: The good, honest men wore white and always defeated the bad, criminal men who wore black in a showdown. One could almost say that the old Westerns glorified the post-Civil War western frontier, which truly was a dark, difficult, and dangerous life for those who chose to live it. But this kind of morality quickly wore off, and when America turned to more complex super-heroes so the stark good-versus-evil morals of the Western genre began to outstay its welcome. Since then, Westerns saw only one other renaissance in the form of the Spaghetti Westerns of the 60’s, whose morals were present but somewhat twisted; although our good guy hero did win the day, he wasn’t the glorified frontiersman hero we knew and loved; he was a drunkard who played dirty and cared only for himself. Since the 60’s the Western genre saw few resurgences, the last one in the turn-of-the-90’s with Kevin Costner’s epic Dances with Wolves and Clint Eastwood’s opus, Unforgiven. And now, we have another resurfacing of the genre with 2005’s The Proposition and 2007’s 3:10 To Yuma and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

What is so good about these modern-day Westerns is that they are just that; old-fashioned stark morality is replaced by modern-day foggy-lined morals; the glory of the West is replaced by the grimy underbelly and grueling, unforgiving nature of frontier life. As movie-making in general became more realistic so did the treatment of the Western frontier, and 3:10 To Yuma provides an exquisite example of these plays on morality. Here is a hero that just wants to scrape by his simple farm life and performs heroic acts for selfish reasons only – erasure of debts, monetary reward, and his family’s well being. Here is a villain who is obviously superiorly intelligent than his crew of cutthroats and who seems more preoccupied with bible verses and drawing sketches of nature than a life of crime. Here is a palette of people our group of travelers meet along the way who have no laws and no morals; the Marshall of a semi-large settlement has to be privately contracted for his law-enforcing services, and when the heat is on has no problem breaching his contract and withdrawing himself and his men to avoid the danger. Here is a West in which there are no duels, but where people have no objection in shooting one another in the back. It’s every man for himself, just like it was in the actual frontier.

I must admit, I haven’t seen the 1957 original, but James Mangold does an exquisite job in his re-make/re-imagination. Although the film is overall old-fashioned, it still features many modern filmmaking techniques aside from the blurry morality of the brilliant screenplay and the down-and-dirty depiction of Wild Western life. Handheld cameras and very modern-styled action photography are wonderfully employed, and in general the cinematography is a wonder to behold; naturalistic while managing to be stimulatingly beautiful. Mangold also directs like a modern director, allowing his brilliant actors to explore their characters and deliver powerhouse performances full of nuance and subtlety.

Indeed the entire ensemble cast can be mentioned in good light, especially supporting actors Peter Fonda as the scarred, craggy old bounty hunter who is one of the best examples of blurry morality in the film; in this chapter of his life he is under contract for the “good guys”, but we learn that he has had no problem in the past murdering women and children; and Ben Foster, who delivers a truly scenery-chewing and brilliant performance as outlaw Ben Wade’s clearly deranged right-hand man. But the true wonder lies in the film’s two top-billed actors, among the best of their generation: Christian Bale and Russell Crowe.

The two plays off one another to absolute, pitch-perfect brilliance, and both manage to find the niches of both of their characters. It’s wonderfully fascinating to watch how Crowe plays Wade as enjoying his playful-but-deadly manipulations of the party accompanying him to the train that will take him to Yuma prison to be tried and hanged. Only Bale’s Dan Evans can provide the proper contrast to this, as his straight-man routine is coupled with obvious intelligence. He seems out of place in this landscape and we learn that he was originally from Massachusetts but was forced to move to the dry weather of the western frontier due to his young son’s illness. For someone with so much to lose, we the audience – and even the characters in the film, including Evans himself – don’t know exactly why he is so stubborn in delivering Wade to the train. Is all the trouble really worth the $200 reward? Or is Evans simply trying to prove something to his wayward eldest son who doesn’t have faith in his father, who is embarrassed to tell him the tragically un-heroic way he lost his leg in the Civil War. The “battle of wits” reaches a climax as the two sit in a hotel room near the end of the film, waiting patiently for the train to arrive. The little conversation they have is rather banal, but we learn so much from the characters just by seeing how Evans is willing to open himself up to the outlaw, and how Wade listens intently to his story.

Of course, one can’t review a period piece without referencing its period setting, and Mangold’s crew truly do a fantastic job at dressing the film. Everything looks and feels entirely authentic; no theatrics or old-fashioned views of the West are involved, for example, in the set or costume design. Attention to detail is great; every costume and prop looks entirely in place and everything is exquisitely done. And it’s all tied together in a wonderful bow with Marco Beltrami’s Morricone-esque musical score.

Like the greatest intelligent movies, 3:10 To Yuma is a character study of the kind that the characters don’t have one simple trait that identifies them but rather are three-dimensional, fleshed out human beings who fascinate us with their unclear intentions, fears, regrets, mistakes and quirks. The film is incredibly well acted from its ensemble cast in general and its two stars in particular, and Mangold truly delivers the goods on the directing plane with his old-fashioned filmmaking with a modern twist in terms of the cinematography and action directing. This is a fascinating, realistic and brutally honest portrayal both of the 19th century Western frontier and of the morality of men, and is an extremely satisfying, entertaining and well-made film in general.

RATING: 8/10.

[RellimHcaz]

I thought this movie was okay. Good action. 7/10

When is the DVD release?!?

And if Ben Foster doesn't get an Oscar for his work as a supporting actor then im gonna sue some people.

[Rawlin67]

better start suing. hell be lucky if he gets nominated.

im not saying he doesnt deserve some recognition, he was amazing in his role, he just wont get it.

[paul calf]

loved it the best western since unforgiven bale,crowe,and foster were superb.
9/10

[xseanymacx]

8/10. Just watched it for the first time in Blu-Ray:cool:

Nothing can be said in praise, that hasn't already.