Review of Maverick (2015) by Judge L — 22 Sep 2013

"Maverick", a western-themed film, is well known for its witty, free-spirited charm, as well as its memorable acting and comical plots. It captures some of these traits in the very first scene. The movie opens with Brett Maverick, played by Mel Gibson, grasping his legs around his horse while being roped around the neck by a noose hanging from a tree. While on the verge of being hung out in the middle of nowhere, Brett narrates his story and how he got there, achieving a lot of amusement and jocosity while doing it. It sets the tone of the movie right from the start.

Mel Gibson makes you want to keep watching, smiling, and laughing at his character and different predicaments he gets himself into, from fighting off fifteen guys in the street (whom he pays to make himself look good and intimidating), to betting all of the money that he's worth on one poker card. In one of the first scenes, Maverick is desperately trying to win his last $5,000 to have enough money to enter the World Series poker tournament. Poker players that have high tempers, to the point where they will kill to win, surround him. Maverick has to use his charm and wit to con his way into making it out alive. Jodie Foster, who plays Annabelle Bransford, also conveys a brilliant performance with her flirtatious personality and conniving ways. While throwing herself into Brett's arms, and telling him how gorgeous he is in what she trys to make a convincing southern accent, Bransford could be telling the truth or lieing through her teeth. Will Maverick fall for it? It all comes together and illustrates the renowned acting in this movie.

There is a lot of originality and creativity portrayed for the viewers through the unique set designs. From cowboys and gunslingers wearing Stetson hats and spurs, middle-aged women wearing corsets and bodices to accentuate their shapes, to wooden swinging doors and saloons on every corner, this movie perfectly captures the 1870's culture throughout the west.

In every good western picture, there is bound to be a love story throughout. So, of course, director Richard Donner includes a flirtatious banter between two of the main characters, Maverick, and a sweet but sly woman named Annabelle Bransford played by Jodie Foster. Bransford is a woman with sexy, promiscuous style that seems to use these traits to her favor, but not in a legal way. This includes charming other men while stealing their wallets. This adds great humor to the plot as well.

This movie shows how free-spirited, relaxed, yet engaging, western inspired movies can be. It makes you wonder about the possibility of bringing back and creating more western movies that can make people feel good when they leave the theater. Popular movies now portray our society and all of its negatives causing people to become troubled or anxious. Why do that to yourself when you can enjoy a more light-hearted movie like "Maverick"?