Review: ‘3:10 to Yuma’ a familiar but fresh western

Directed by: James Mangold

Starring: Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, Gretchen Mol, Peter Fonda, Ben Foster

Rated: R

The days when “westerns” ruled the B-movie world are long gone, but the formula that makes a western a western – and certainly there are plenty of top notch westerns, not just low budget fodder – has never really faded.

The entire “Star Wars” saga is like a classic John Ford film set in a galaxy far, far away. The “Mad Max” films are post-apocalyptic westerns, and even the sci-fi film “Outland” leaned heavily toward the genre.

Over the years, great directors have adapted the formula to suit their needs. The legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa was highly influenced by John Ford. In turn, Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai” inspired John Sturges’ “The Magnificent Seven,” “Yojimbo” influenced the spaghetti westerns of Sergio Leone, and “The Hidden Fortress” was George Lucas’ cinematic blueprint for many of the themes in “Star Wars.”

So long after the cut-and-dry days of good guys wearing white, cowboys are good, Indians are bad and the like, the western still holds a degree of sway over filmmakers and audiences.

Last year, “The Proposition” brought back more familiar western scenery, although it took place in Australia and was heavy with modern western themes. It was a great film.

In that same vein comes James Mangold’s “3:10 to Yuma.” Based on a short story by Elmore Leonard, it was originally brought to the screen in 1957 by director Delmer Daves.

Mangold has kept the spirit of classic westerns – which are, at heart, morality plays – but has added elements that will appeal to audiences used to more modern westerns such as Clint Eastwood’s “Unforgiven.” He and screenwriters Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, however, lift dialogue directly from the 1957 screenplay written by Halsted Welles. The result is a film that seems like a familiar classic that manages to feel fresh.

One reason this version of “3:10” works so well is Mangold’s choice of actors. Christian Bale is the downtrodden rancher Dan Evans, and Russell Crowe is the Bible-quoting, downright charming (if admittedly murderous) outlaw Ben Wade. One of Wade’s favorite Bible verses is: “Every wicked man is right in his own heart.”

The supporting cast, including Peter Fonda, Gretchen Mol and Ben Foster, is equally well-used. Mangold is an actor’s director. Angelina Jolie won an Oscar for her role in the director’s “Girl, Interrupted.” Reese Witherspoon did the same for his “Walk the Line.”

The Evans family is in dire straits. The man who holds the deed to their ranch is trying to starve them out; he wants to sell the land to the railroad company that will soon be putting tracks through the territory.

When the Evans’ rather underfed cattle get stampeded, Dan and his two sons hit the trail to round them up. They happen to witness a brutal robbery/multiple murder by Ben Wade’s gang and nearly escape any consequences.

As fate would have it, Wade is apprehended. When Pinkerton detectives and representatives of the stageline want to hire a contingent to take the outlaw to catch the train of the title (which will take him to trial and surely the gallows) in the small town of Contention, Dan can’t turn down the money.

As a survivor of the Civil War, Dan is partially crippled but a master sharpshooter. The latter comes in handy throughout the numerous gun battles in the film, including the long, well-choreographed final half-hour.

The journey is what matters here, and the interaction between the down-on-his-luck rancher, his son and the at-the-top-of-his-game outlaw drives the film as much as the action. There is plenty of action, though, and with Wade’s gang – led in the boss’ absence by the frightening Foster as Charlie Prince – still intact, there is always another shootout just around the bend.

This remake fits in nicely with modern westerns (“The Proposition,” “Unforgiven” and HBO’s “Deadwood”) as well as the classics.

Jim Wunderle owns Wunderle Sound Services and is a Springfield freelance writer and musician. He can be reached at info@wunderlesound.com.[[In-content Ad]]