(A Western with Russell Crowe - that’s about the only way you’ll get me to watch one)
CAST: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Logan Lerman, Dallas Robert, Peter Fonda, Alan Tudyk, Gretchen Mol, Vinessa Shaw.
DIRECTOR: James Mangold
WARNING: Some SPOILERS and unexpectedly awesome horseback theatrics and dramatics - straight ahead.
In my recent review for UNSTOPPABLE (review # 149), I mentioned that I find actor Denzel Washington boring when he plays noble and stoic characters. Put him in a role that allows him to be less-than-perfect, though, and the man comes alive. He doesn’t have to be evil, just a little quirky. Anything other than the goody-goodies that he played in THE BOOK OF ELI and THE PELICAN BRIEF. Yawn.
Russell Crowe, on the other hand, is an actor who is compelling in practically any role you put him in. With the exception of PROOF OF LIFE (review # 159), in which his potentially-interesting character was waylaid by the icky situation he was put in, Crowe has never failed to win me over - whether playing good, bad, or in-between.
Crowe has played evil (or, at least, very troubled) characters before. He was appropriately and enjoyably over-the-top as the computerized serial-killer amalgam Sid 6.7 in VIRTUOSITY (review # 158), and his role as a complex skinhead in ROMPER STOMPER (1992) is what made Hollywood take notice of him in the first-place. Suffice it to say, Crowe has experience when it comes to the dark side.
Neither of those roles, however, can prepare you for the ultimate bad-ass that he plays in 3:10 TO YUMA, a remake of the 1957 Glenn Ford western classic. Crowe takes the role of Ben Wade, an outlaw of near-mythic reputation. Wade commands the respect, loyalty, and fear of his band of bandidos. Their posse is notorious for robbing stagecoaches, and when our film first opens, we see them giving one the robbery equivalent of a Brazilian wax - that is, everything gets removed. And it’s just as painful.
Wade’s crime is witnessed by down-trodden cattle farmer Dan Evans (Christian Bale), and his two sons, William (Logan Lerman) and Mark (Benjamin Petry). Before the trio can sneak away quietly, though, Wade’s gang notices them. Fortunately, our man Wade is quite fair-minded for a murderous psychotic - and lets father and sons go after taking their horses. Unfortunately (for Dan, anyway), this will not be the last time the family crosses paths with Mr. Wade.
Later on, the authorities are tipped off to Wade and his buddies staying at a local saloon/inn. Using Dan as a mole, they actually manage to apprehend our villain. Which is like the Western equivalent of nabbing Hannibal Lecter. To make things more interesting, the cash-strapped Dan is offered a nice sum (for this time period, anyway) in exchange for helping guard Wade and ensure that he makes it to his transport to prison… the 3:10 train to Yuma.
DUN-DA-DUN-DUN!
Naturally, Dan accepts. See the money will allow him to save his ranch - and regain the respect of his wife (Gretchen Mol) and sons. Sadly, Dan is one of those hardworking decent guys who get written off because they’re not… Ben Wade. Then again, when you’re sitting across from Ben Wade and he tells you that your eyes are a changeable shade of green, all bets are off. Anyhow, Dan sees his association with Wade as a cloud - and the silver lining is the money that just might solve his problems.
Unfortunately, our Dan will soon discover first-hand that every cloud with a silver lining is probably a lightning cloud - and his ass will soon be in the its direct line of fire. See, it ain’t going to be easy getting Ben Wade to the train depot. Did Dan really think he was getting paid all that money because it was going to be a cake walk? Evidently, Ben’s loyal (and insane) number two (Ben Foster) is hell-bent on freeing his boss - and will shoot anyone standing between them.
Will Dan be able to get Wade to the train? Will Wade try to psych out Dan? Will Wade try to win the loyalty of William and turn him against his Pops? Is that money worth all this trouble? Will Dan chicken out and head back home with his head hung low? Or will he triumph in the end? Will Dan and Wade bond? Is Wade really that evil? Or does he have a noble streak in him? Will Mrs. Dan decide she wants her world rocked and run off with Wade?
I would. You know I would.
BUT, SERIOUSLY: I’ll say it upfront: I am no fan of westerns. Try as I might to get into them, I end up falling asleep. I’ve only managed to stay awake with four of them: UNFORGIVEN (1992), because Clint Eastwood‘s brilliance; SILVERADO (1985), because of the great cast led by Kevin Kline and Kevin Costner; THE QUICK AND THE DEAD (1994), because of the novelty of a female gunslinger and Sharon Stone’s beauty; and now… 3:10 TO YUMA - because of the terrific performances from Russell Crowe and Christian Bale.
Russell Crowe knocks the role of Ben Wade out of the park. Coming across as something of a western Hannibal Lecter (without the cannibalism), Wade is a seductive blend of hot-blooded passion, cold-blooded calculation, and - ultimately - unexpected humanity. He initially plays Christian Bale’s Dan like a finely-tuned instrument, only to find himself gradually respecting the man’s courage and loyalty to his family. Crowe hold the screen with his nuanced portrayal of this very complex - and very intriguing - character. Ultimately, Ben Wade is neither good nor bad, but somewhere tantalizingly in between.
Just as good in his own way is Christian Bale as Dan Evans. Bale bravely plays up a lot of Dan’s frailties, but he never makes the mistake of portraying the man as a victim. Instead, we have a man who has been buffeted by bad luck, but still manages to hold his head - if only barely at times. It’s this quiet dignity that Bale gives the role that wins us over. We want to see Dan succeed. And it is also this quality that finally earns Ben Wade’s respect. I like to think that whatever good is left in Wade is aroused by the abundant decency in Dan. Christian Bale is not one of my favorite actors, but in this film, he comes close.
Special mention should also be made for Ben Foster as Wade’s loyal and dangerous second-in-command. This has got to be one of the most interesting “henchman” roles in cinematic history. Just like Wade, Foster’s character is layered and written with care. And Foster displays the same care in bringing the role to life. The final scene between him and Wade is heartbreaking in its own twisted way.
All in all, 3:10 TO YUMA is a very good action/thriller. The fact that it’s a western is almost incidental. I can see the same premise being updated for modern times and set in a big city. Bale’s role would be a troubled cop. Crowe’s role would be some mob criminal. And Foster’s role would be the enforcer whose mission it is to free his boss - at all costs.
In other words, it’s timeless - just like Russell Crowe’s performance.
