3:10 To Yuma (2007)

Written by Nick Da Costa | Wednesday, February 27, 2008 |

The Western has contained within its gunfights, its robberies, its plains, and crag ridden hideouts, its heroes and heroines the elements of the best of cinema.

Though some might describe its history as myriad simple stories they hide a complexity of message that can shake even the most cynical of audiences. This is no less true of James Mangold’s fine addition to the genre, 3:10 to Yuma.

A remake of the classic of the same name it takes the surface simple story of two opposing moral forces, of struggling rancher Dan Evans (Christian Bale) and violent outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe), drops them into a thrilling race against time, while subtly balancing this with an exploration of the effects of civilisation on the West.

From the first notes of Marco Beltrami’sclassic score and the simple, gunshot title card, this is pure undiluted genre filmmaking. No compromises to modernity; no post-modern wink. It’s clean and pure, with gorgeous natural lighting and all the more powerful for it. Though Mangold holds off on the typically languorous shots of the epic Western vistas, it is essential in emphasising the claustrophobia of pursuit. He chooses performance over artistic authority, never letting his style become intrusive, directing the looks, the silent spaces, and the rhythm of dialogue expertly.

And it is an actor’s film; the screen crackling with charisma. Bale is excellent as the former Union sharpshooter, now poor rancher drawn into the prison transfer of Crowe’s delightfully wicked and wily Ben Wade not because he needs the money, though that is the ostensible reason, but because he fears the disappointment in the eyes of his family. He wants to rage against the subjugation of civilisation and he sees the power and freedom personified by Wade, a scholar who kills without mercy; recalling at times The Judge from Cormac McCarthy’s excellent Western tale, Blood Meridian. The two characters are intertwined, with each action they give insight into the other, how they are similar: both fathers, Evans to a brave son and Wade to savages, to what they lack and have too much of, whether it is pride or ferocity. And as they are intertwined, the natural order of good and evil bleeds together to produce far more interesting grays. It is a testament to the quality of the filmmaking and most importantly the performances of the two leads that we end the film empathizing with both men.

Like any great Western the tapestry of this film is embellished by its supporting cast. From Peter Fonda’s gritty, bible riding bounty hunter, to arguably the highlight of the film in the form of Ben Foster’s psychotically fragile and deadly Charlie Prince, this is a delight, recalling the careful and colourful casting in any Peckinpah film. In fact in an ending that also recalls the opera of Leone in sound and retribution, there is a sense that the Western pedigree is being dusted off for a revival and not a moment too soon.

Trailers: http://www.apple.com/trailers/lions_gate/310toyuma/
HD Trailers: http://www.apple.com/trailers/lions_gate/310toyuma/HD
Official Website: http://lionsgate.com/310toyuma
Cast: Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, Ben Foster, Alan Tudyk, Gretchen Mol
Director James Mangold
Release Date: 14th September 2007 (UK)

• The Dark Knight (2008)
• Crudup Does The Hoovering
• Bale Speaks Out About Batman Co-Star Ledger
• The Terminator Is Back!
• Cyclops Movie Coming… No X-Men to be Seen
• Super 2008…The Year Of The Super Hero
• New Dark Knight Trailer (In Lego)
• Christian Bale and Johnny Depp are Public Enemies

One Response to “3:10 To Yuma (2007)”

Post A Comment