Anglerbe's Retro Review: 3:10 to Yuma (2007)

                2^nd Western this summer down… Yet again I don’t know where to begin with a review, but this time it’s for the better.  I haven’t seen the 1957 original, so I can’t make that comparison, but I can say that this is undoubtedly one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time. I’d even go as far as to say it’s one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. After watching it I read up on goofs, and I can honestly say I didn’t notice a single one of them. This film does a great job of keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. If anyone ever tells you that Westerns are boring, direct them to this one.

This is no coincidence.

I’ll begin by covering the plot (don’t worry; I’ll keep it as spoiler free as reasonably possible; I don’t want to ruin this movie for you). This film, as I have stated, keeps you hooked from the very start. Plenty of twists and turns are peppered throughout, and even moments you would expect to be dull, such as sitting around a camp fire, are intense and suspenseful. There’s never a moment where the viewer is certain what may happen next. While the story isn’t too difficult to follow, there are some cleverly placed instances of foreshadowing which are not apparent to the viewer—until it’s too late, that is. The characters in this movie are very believable, and they keep the plot flowing smoothly (and suspensefully).

While I’m on the subject, I’ll say that the acting in this movie is superb. Not a single character feels out of place. The dialogue is very well executed, and often keeps you on edge. Christian Bale and Russell Crowe play their respective roles incredibly well. Crowe’s character, Ben Wade, in particular is arguably the most significant factor in driving, not only the story, but the film as a whole. Cunning and unpredictable, through the course of the entire film he keeps the viewer wondering whether he is a friend or foe. The fear that his gang may attack at any given moment is almost the primary emotional drive in the film, second only to the unpredictability of Ben Wade himself. The character development is realistic and pulls you deep into the movie. I found myself constantly wondering what I would do in a given situation.

"Be careful with that thing. That gun's got a curse on it."

While it packs in plenty of action and high-intensity shootouts/fights, the movie is never over-the-top. It uses enough blood and gore to get its point through; no more, and no less. For this, I commend it. Both the sound and visual effects do their job to make the movie believable, as do the backdrops and film locations. The soundtrack is fantastic to boot.

As previously stated, the plot isn’t too difficult to follow, but I personally didn’t see the ending coming. I was pleasantly surprised, but also deeply saddened. While it may not be quite as dark in some respects as Unforgiven, it has its own share of underlying moral themes. For example, the entire movie evidences that it’s better to stand for what you believe in, rather than walk away with the crowd.

                In conclusion, I think I can rightly say that this is one the greatest films I have ever seen. It balances intense gunfights with edge-of-your-seat suspense in wondering what’s coming next. Part of me was even a little bit saddened to see the credits roll. I give this movie a 9.9/10. Nothing is perfect, and everything has room for improvement, but this movie comes pretty close. I may not have seen the original as of the time I’m writing this, but I’m telling you now, WATCH THIS MOVIE. I don’t care if Westerns aren’t your thing. And, I can almost guarantee, neither will you.

EDIT, April 2014: After having watched a handful of other westerns, as I predicted would be the case I am changing the score to 9.0/10.