3:10 to Yuma

One of the biggest problems plaguing Hollywood at the moment is lack of imagination. At least that€™s what I think. Re-makes and franchises continue to dominate the box office, and tacky drawn out sequels stretch in a never ending line through our cinematic consciousness. However, one genre which has received comparatively less of such attentions is the Western. Perhaps because there is little that can be brought to this aged genre, or perhaps because there isn't a lot of public interest anymore, but either way it was with great interest that I entered the cinema to watch 3:10 to Yuma, a remake of the classic 1957 film of the same name. Despite my reservations about regurgitated stories, I have to say that this updated version was gripping from start to finish. The lead actors were outstanding; Russell Crowe, Christian Bale and Ben Foster in particular crackled and fizzed from start to fiery finish, where the ample action of the final showdown took the strain from the actors with its chaotic cacophony of gunfire, gore and explosions. I hope you'll excuse that minor alliterative excursion, but the film really was a lot of fun! The remake follows the same plot as its predecessor: notorious bandit Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) is captured in a small town and a band of townsfolk including struggling small-time rancher Dan Evans (Christian Bale) agree to take Wade to the 3:10 train to Yuma prison. But hot on their tail is Wade's merciless gang, led in the interim by the slightly psychotic Charlie Prince (Ben Foster). Crowe and Bale masterfully portray their two multi-faceted characters as they engage in a psychological battle on their journey, with Crowe displaying all his natural prowess at looking deep and brooding. Foster's performance is also outstanding in its portrayal of the unstoppable fanaticism with which Charlie pursues his captured leader. The presence of Peter Fonda is also welcome - albeit in a supporting role - as a mercenary who is the victim of Wade's gang in the opening scenes, but survives against the odds and vows to get his attacker to the 3:10 train.The psychological tension that pervades this film is punctuated by hectic gun fights with various wild-west stereotypes that block the path of our troupe of warriors, and the constant jumping between the two is bound to keep even the most sceptical of viewers glued to the screen. The best thing about the film though is that it found that elusive middle-ground that is so precious for remakes. It neither completely ignores the conventions that made its genre great, but nor does it merely reiterate tired clichés. Wade comes out with a few classic one liners, ("Even bad men love their mommas"), and the final shootout bristles with armed bystanders and yellow-bellied lawmen, but these weren't hammed up too much. Similarly, the film stayed true to its roots in its portrayal of the ambiguous morality of the period in this isolated part of the world, the gradually illuminated pasts of Wade and Evans give the audience a taste of what the hard men of the Wild West were made of. It's worth adding that the film was not without its flaws. One great aspect of old Westerns is the quick switches between close-up shots of hardened cowboys, deep in thought, and the desolate sprawling deserts to emphasise the isolation of the protagonists. '3:10 to Yuma' rarely gives us a glimpse of the expanse that lies beyond the faces of the cast, and this is ultimately to the detriment of the atmosphere of the film. However, we may be able to allow director James Mangold some slack on this matter given reports that filming was frequently hampered by heavy snowfall - a serious concern when the setting is a supposedly drought-stricken village! In spite of such relatively minor shortcomings, the film holds its own both among its peers in the action film genre, and amongst the multitude of remakes currently gracing our screens. The strong cast, quality action scenes and edgy psychological warfare are easily enough to keep you interested for the duration of the film. This one is definitely worth watching.

rating: 4