Review of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) by Marlon E — 30 Dec 2011

THE pinnacle of the spaghetti western. Sergio Leone created one of the most iconic characters to ever grace the silver screen in The Man With No Name, and he is at an all time high with The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Before The Man With No Name Trilogy came to be, westerns were mainly pushed aside for other genres. These films just didn't put the Western genre into the mainstream, they reinvented them. There is not a single frame in the film that is out of place. It just works that well.

Clint Eastwood is masterful, as to be expected in any western he's in. He's gritty, semi-heartless, yet attention-grabbing as the Man with No Name after the stolen gold. His performance is the golden standard to any western star. He may not be a very "good" actor by today's standards, but his gruff personality and rugged traits fit the mold of a badass cowboy flawlessly. Eli Wallach as Tuco is also brilliant. He's an ass, but he's hilarious as the bumbling bandit sidekick to Eastwood. Lee Van Cleef is an excellent villain, the double crossing Angel Eyes. Though, it is strange seeing him as a villain after seeing him in For A Few Dollars More as the good guy. The supporting cast is also great, all actors fit their respective parts well.

Perhaps the most important part of any movie is not the actors, but every technical aspect about it. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly makes sure that almost every single technical aspect about it is spot on perfect. The grand scale of the film is breathtaking. Every shot of the wide open desert, the old western towns, the Civil War battle scenes, and the final Graveyard duel are awe-inspiring. The cinematography is also stellar, every shot is fantastic. The set pieces give you the feel of the Civil War era South that the film takes place in. However, the best thing about The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, and maybe one of the best things about any film ever, is the score. Sergio Leone may have created one of the best films of all time, but Ennio Morricone created a score the makes even the film shudder. The two go together like Bonnie and Clyde, as in they wouldn't be complete without each other. When you think of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, you can't help but think of the absolutely haunting Main Theme. The soundtrack is a masterpiece.

Not only is The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly the best western film of all time, it has the right to be considered one of the best all around films of all time. No joke, Leone's meticulous efforts really show in the third and final adventure of The Man With No Name. While the film is a little too long, and it could have been shortened in some parts, the Good of the film outweighs the Bad and the Ugly, just like in the plot of the film. The film is the most defining western film ever, and the best, most ambitious and influential films ever made.