Review of 3:10 to Yuma (1957) by Todd B — 23 Jul 2012

I'm not sure how anyone could really deny this was going to be a great movie. Maximus VS. Batman?? No matter who loses, the audience wins.

And what a duel it was. You've got the cut-throat, fast shooting, witty outlaw, Crowe, (Which, and my film school buddies will find this funny, has a gun called The Hand of God.) and you've got the one-legged, former civil war sharpshooter turned failed rancher, Bale. You'd think Bale wouldn't stand a chance. Here's the beauty of this movie though, the odd, pseudo-friendship that develops between their characters based on a twisted, mutual admiration. It's one of the most interesting character relationships I've ever seen.

My psycho analysis aside, I really hope this film, with its incredible acting by Bale and Crowe, and its slow, steady build to an incredibly thrilling and poignant finish, will usher in a new age, or at least a year or two, of Westerns.