by Massie Twins

Created on: September 08, 2007

James Mangold's re-envisioning of the classic western "3:10 to Yuma" is an astonishing success for 2007. While it unquestionably received an update in crisp dialogue, bloody violence and breath-taking action, it does still retain many elements from the original. It is a different brand and a different breed - but then again "3:10 to Yuma" was not a conventional Western even upon its initial release in 1957. With plenty of star power, superior acting and a snazzy score, "3:10 to Yuma" proves that the Western may not be dead for audiences of 2007.

Life has dealt a bad hand to Dan Evans (Christian Bale), but he makes the most of it as a simple rancher with his wife Alice (Gretchen Mol). When he accidentally witnesses the robbery of a stagecoach at the hands of notorious outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) his life becomes unexpectedly intertwined with the calculating criminal. When the law catches up with Wade, Dan is recruited to escort him to the afternoon train which will take the prisoner to Yuma to await his trial. But Wade's malicious gang is out to set their leader free, and Evans must dodge bullets and more if he hopes to catch the train alive.

As a Western, "3:10 to Yuma" brings back the familiar blazing sun, barren deserts and sweaty action of "Spaghetti" Westerns, but introduces a more stylized, serious and violent tone than what the original offered. More reminiscent of recent takes on Westerns such as "Unforgiven" or "The Proposition", it utilizes a setting and mise en scne more than anything else, to emulate the Western feel. It is foremost a character study, and since the original premise was so alluring it was a perfect choice to remake. Like Unforgiven, the lines between good and evil tread very closely, and here the villain is so cool and composed that we readily forget he is a criminal.

"3:10 to Yuma" was an adept choice to reintroduce to audiences since most people who will be watching the film have never seen the original or didn't know this was a remake. This is a film that is so character driven that it thrives on performances; advances in technology won't overly influence its effectiveness, nor will rehashing underlying plots. The original tells an unconventional story that is nearly untranslatable in the expected realism of today without quenching audiences in an explosive, full-color, thrilling, harsher and more vibrant picture. Fans of the original will most certainly be disappointed by the altered conclusion, but everyone else (the vast majority) will be grandly entertained.

The acting is superb, and Crowe snares the spotlight as a wickedly intelligent and sophisticated outlaw. Christian Bale is Crowe's equal onscreen, and they both demand attention. Not often do the bad guys blend with the good guys to the point that we actually root for both of them to succeed. With respect and perhaps admiration, Bale and Crowe appear almost like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, with equal parts rivalry and partnership. Ben Foster is outstanding as the maniacally evil Charlie Prince, who demonstrates the despicable qualities most black-and-white villains (such as his counterpart Richard Jaeckel from the 1957 classic) couldn't have hoped to display. And Peter Fonda plays Byron McElroy, a weathered bounty hunter who snags all the coolest lines in the film.

With an impressive score by Marco Beltrami, stunning cinematography by Phedon Papamichael (Walk the Line and Sideways) and the redefining of good and evil amongst heroes and villains, "3:10 to Yuma" is a sturdy remake despite the shortcomings of adjusting the finale. The updates will resonate with newer audiences, and this stirring action film may successfully revitalize an almost extinct genre in 2007.

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