A timeless classic.
Western genre fans haven’t had a lot to get excited about in the past, oh say, three decades.
There have been a few gems (Unforgiven), competent (Open Range) and fun-spirited (Young Guns, Tombstone) entries into the genre in recent years, but nothing truly at the level of the all time greats. I’m talking The Searchers, The Wild Bunch, Once Upon a Time in the West and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
James Mangold’s remake of 3:10 to Yuma ranks as a modern classic of the genre. Yes, it is that good. From start to end, Yuma is a breathtakingly captivating piece of cinema in every aspect. It’s got the western standbys of great visuals and lush atmosphere, but where it really shines is in the stellar cast and taut storytelling. It starts great, it ends great and there is rarely a lag in-between.
Christian Bale is Dan Evans, a down-on-his-luck rancher and Civil War vet who stumbles upon an opportunity to make a few bucks by joining a posse of volunteers in transporting the notorious outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) to the 3:10 train to Yuma Prison. This is no small task, considering that Wade’s gang of criminals will be following the group at every turn to rescue their beloved leader. Evans goes because he needs the money, but also sees the venture as a chance to redeem himself to his son William (Logan Lerman), who has started to question his own father’s courage. Wade’s gang is lead by the venomous Charlie Prince (Ben Foster), a ruthless gunslinger who shoots before thinking. Along the way, Wade and Evans, two men who appear so different on the surface, form a kinship and mutual respect despite their polar opposite intentions.
The supporting cast includes Peter Fonda, Dallas Roberts, Vinessa Shaw, Alan Tudyk and Gretchen Mol. 3:10 to Yuma is directed by James Mangold from a script by Halsted Welles, Michael Brandt and Derek Haas. It is based on the short story by Elmore Leonard.
I don’t throw the word masterpiece around lightly, but I believe it is fitting here. And why not? Picturing the movies that fit into this category over the years, I imagine a series of film clips shown before an Oscar presentation or before lifetime achievement awards for a great director - The kind of clips that remind you why movies are great. And trust me, while I won’t reveal anything about it, the ending sequence of 3:10 to Yuma could fit within those reels seemlessly.
While I have only seen parts of the original film, I’d say this new version takes Leonard’s story to a new level. The characters just feel more layered and complex. They are more identifiable and, consequently, more engaging.
Heading through the three standout performances, I’ll start with my favorite: Ben Foster. Here’s a guy who’s been around for a few years and has primarily been typecast as the creepy guy (Six Feet Under) or emotionally disturbed (Alpha Dog). He’s shown strong possibilities, but hasn’t had a breakout role until now. Foster’s Charlie Prince is pure, unabashed evil. And yet, you kinda like him in a guilty pleasure sort of way. As Prince traipses his way across the countryside leaving stacks of corpses in his path, he’s got a certain panache, if you will. He’s bad to the bone, but he’s got style. Foster commits to this role 110 percent and the result is one of the most memorable villains I’ve seen on screen in years and years. It's easily worthy of a best supporting actor nod at the very least. 
Christian Bale has been my favorite actor for a while now and Yuma is another feather in his cap. It’s almost as if I’m less excited by his performance here simply because I’m so used to seeing him be great in every thing that he does. Heck, he’s already been in my two favorite movies of 2007 (Yuma and Rescue Dawn) and I’d go so far as to say I’d see any movie he does. That’s a statement I can’t really make about any other actor working today. Bale is exceptional as Evans and seeing him square off with Crowe, both as characters and great actors, is a match-up on the level of DeNiro and Pacino squaring off at that diner in Heat. Unfortunately for Bale, he’s got the straight-man role of this pic. He’s very good in the part, but your focus tends to shift towards the more colorful outlaws played by Foster and Crowe.
Finally, Russell Crowe, a man whose public persona as a rage-prone hot-head has unfortunately overshadowed his status as one of the best film actors in the business. Crowe brings a wonderful presence to Ben Wade. He also brings a sympathetic nature to the character that will conflict audiences. You know Evans is the better man and you know Wade is the cold-blooded killer, but yet, you love watching Wade because he’s just so damn cool. Like Evans’ son, you know there is a softer layer beneath the tough exterior, but Crowe’s subtlety towards this aspect of his characters nails the internal conflict of Ben Wade.
Walk the Line was my favorite movie two years ago and 3:10 to Yuma is my favorite movie of 2007. Seriously, this guy made Identity and Kate and Leopold??? While that remains a head-scratcher, Mangold is definitely on my must-watch list for now. His grasp of the Yuma material is nearly unparalleled in today’s junk food cinema culture. A lesser director might have been tempted to head into epic territory and three-hour plus running times, but Mangold manages to cram so much into 117 minutes. Taking no credit away from the team that crafted the story and without having the script as a reference, it’s hard to imagine any director doing a better job with the material. Mangold also has balls, a statement I cannot backup without revealing key plot points. Suffice to say, you’ll know what I mean after you see the movie. I’d have to imagine that many of Mangold’s decisions prevented a larger studio from taking interest in the project.
On a side note, the release of 3:10 to Yuma itself is pretty baffling. A September 7th release (especially opposite the entertaining Shoot ‘Em Up, which aims at a similar audience) doesn’t exactly scream “brilliant placement” or “Oscar push.” Let’s just hope Lionsgate knows something I don’t, because it would be a shame if 3:10 to Yuma didn’t get the attention it deserves.
Although some colleagues have warned me against such a statement so early in the “Oscar” season, I firmly believe that 3:10 to Yuma will be the best movie I see in 2007. I’ve been reviewing movies professionally for four years now and, in all that time, I’ve never given a perfect score to a theatrical release (not counting re-releases, director’s cuts and the like). But Yuma is a 10 in my book, a much welcome entry into the pantheon of classic westerns much too far away from the last one and a bona fide masterpiece of cinema.
ReelzChannel Rating: 