REVIEW: 3:10 to Yuma [2007]

Rating: R | Runtime: 122 minutes
Release Date: September 7th, 2007 (USA)
Studio: Lionsgate
Director(s): James Mangold
Writer(s): Halsted Welles and Michael Brandt & Derek Haas / Elmore Leonard (short story Three-Ten to Yuma)

Even bad men love they mommas.

It’s interesting how having an Oscar-nominated director and actor, along with an Oscar-winning actor, can make a film garner award season buzz rather than the backlash from being a remake. The stigma of “remake” usually spells the kiss of death for most films, but it seems almost an afterthought with James Mangold’s 3:10 to Yuma. Based on an Elmore Leonard short story, the original is somewhat highly touted, so it’s not as though people could have forgotten it.

Either way, I believe a film should be looked upon individually and not necessarily compared to what came before. Sure, that will never happen, as comparisons are too easy to not be made, but a remake should work on its own. As far as this one goes, hot on the heels of two remakes I did not enjoy—The Invasion and Halloween—we finally have a winner. While I have not seen its predecessor, the Western genre has been seeing somewhat of a revival lately. This one doesn’t quite match the brilliance of The Proposition from last year, but definitely warrant a look.

It’s the acting that shines. Between an Oscar winner in Russell Crowe and Christian Bale, (he isn’t the nominated actor here—that’s Peter Fonda—since Bale still surprisingly hasn’t been so honored), you have an acting clinic. These two are phenomenal as the outlaw being taken to his death and the rancher who volunteers to do it. Bale has shown that he’s fantastic as the honest, hardworking, moral figure trying to do right by his family, but rarely have we seen Crowe as a complete villain. Even his L.A. Confidential badass was a good guy at heart working for bad men. Here he’s great as the cocky, fast-talking, charismatic, psychopathic killer.

Bale’s character’s son says he’s not all bad, but Crowe corrects him by saying he is. No matter how affable he can appear, it’s always for his own devices in order to get close and pull the trigger. While this aspect is wonderful on the whole, it is also the one main flaw of the film. We are shown this dark side of Crowe for the entire duration, and, as a result, the evolution of the relationship between he and Bale becomes implausible. I just truly didn’t believe that they would have opened up to each other as they do.

Those two leads are by far the reason to check out the film. It’s like the buzz surrounding Righteous Kill culminating in the fact that DeNiro and Pacino are onscreen together—these two have that same dynamic and may possibly be a tad more exciting today. There are more good actors here too. Alan Tudyk plays a rendition of his usual persona, Gretchen Mol is a welcome sight having been away from the scene for awhile, and Ben Foster again shows why he’s the actor of choice for crazed lunatics. The one bad casting call is Luke Wilson in a bit part. Wilson is a detriment because all the audience does is laugh at him trying to be serious. He might have been spot-on in the performance, but I’ll never know—you really can’t get past who he is to actually find out.

There’s a plot involved too. And it isn’t that bad. The tension and wonder at whether they will make the train weighs heavy throughout the film and the interactions between the characters help create interest. Aesthetically, the filmmakers do a good job showing the grime and filth of the time period as well as the carnage and selfishness that was prevalent. Were it two lesser actors, however, I have to believe I might have been bored by the length of the journey. It’s Bale and Crowe chewing scenery that keeps the film from falling into a slow, plodding pace.

The finale saves everything too with the action amped up fully for a shootout that’s orchestrated to perfection. Again, though, I didn’t quite believe why Crowe does what he does during it. I understand his ego and him thinking he had the ability to help Bale’s psyche while still not hurting himself, but it was a bit too convenient. The bittersweet ending did help save any problems I had with it and in the end I will say I had a real good time.