3:10 To Yuma
Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Peter Fonda, Gretchen Mol, Ben Foster, Dallas Roberts, Alan Tudyk, Vinessa Shaw and Logan Lerman
Director: James Mangold
122 Minutes
Touchstone Pictures
2007
Rating: MA15+

This is the first real "western" for awhile in mainstream western cinema and whether you're a fan of the genre or not, this remake of the 1957 original should be a satisfying film. [It should be noted that the reviewer has not seen the original.]

Dan Evans (Christian Bale) is a down-and-out rancher, who has lost a part of his leg in the Civil War. He is husband to Alice (Gretchen Mol) and father to two sons, William (Logan Lerman) and Mark (Ben Petry). He is struggling to keep his ranch and feed his family due to the railway company wanting to take his land which is compounded with the unfavorable weather affecting his ability to farm the pastures. Through a series of events, Dan sees the charismatic but nonetheless remorseless criminal Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) arrested. The authorities, enthusiastic to send Wade to court to be tried and condemned to death, plan to take him to Contention and get him on the 3:10 train to Yuma. In return for $200, Dan decides to join the party which will escort Wade to Contention with Wade's vengeful gang determined to rescue their captive "Boss".

Although the film is never overly-dramatic and the dialogue is not at all dense, all the actors put on a strong and convincing performance. Crowe (Gladiator) plays the cunning and nonchalant criminal with ease, displaying an air of sophistication and uncompromising brutality. Bale (Harsh Times, American Psycho) also plays the struggling small-time rancher with conviction, his character somewhat more complex. This is not the most demanding role for either Crowe or Bale but both, as expected, have their unique screen presence. Interestingly, as the narrative progresses, Dan discovers the men around him are mostly dishonest in their intentions and speech and that ironically, Wade is the only one who speaks the truth, although he is nevertheless unrepentant in his ways. It is intriguing that Dan clearly feels he has been treated badly by the government which he fought for, by the men who want to take his land and above all, by God for not providing the materials needs of his family. The chance to escort Wade to the train is obviously an opportunity for him to pay the debt and provide for his family - and yet, as the story unfolds, it is clear there are other motives. It is to partly show his sons, particularly William and perhaps to himself that he is still able despite his handicap; that his struggles notwithstanding, he cannot be bought and bribed and that he would carry out this mission not just for the money but for honorable reasons even if no one else would. To what extent all this was dormant, if at all, and if so, to what degree this opportunity has re-awakened these sentiments is for the audience to explore and Bale plays these facets of his character with masterful subtlety. Other notable performances include Ben Foster (Hostage) as Charlie Prince, the disturbing and psychotic right-hand-man of Wade; Logan Lerman as William Evans, the impetuous but dutiful and loyal son and Alan Tudyk (Death At A Funeral, Serenity) in his limited role of Doc Potter, providing small amounts of comic relief.

Director James Mangold (Walk The Line, Identity) with cinematographer Phedon Papamichael (Identity) and editor Michael McCusker have pieced together a visually striking film. The subtle handheld on the characters during dialogue helps convey the mood of the character and the milieu of what is literally and figuratively a dry atmosphere. There is a variety of wide landscape shots and tight shots as one would expect from a western but nothing banal. The quick editing during the action sequences adds a dimension of reality. There was certainly no sparing of dust to give a visceral feel to the violence of gunshots. The action is considerably enhanced by the great sound mix and editing, from the heavy thuds of the horses at speed to the forceful gunfire. While there is no lack in bass in the mix, the sound is always crisp and defined. The music, composed by Marco Beltrami (Die Hard 4.0, I, Robot) is in many ways fitting to the typical western, at times quite dominant and obvious but it never feels overdone. Some of the guitar work is also quite interesting.

3:10 To Yuma is a very balanced film in every respect. It is not overly dramatic, there are no long diatribes nor are there constant gunfights for the sake of action. The acting is more than solid by the entire cast. The narrative is not complex, although the themes are nonetheless interesting, and with the screen presence of Crowe and Bale, this film is (appealingly) more character-driven rather than plot-driven. The sound and photography are effective and certainly make an impact but never overload the senses. Overall, 3:10 To Yuma is a very well produced and a thoroughly captivating film.