3:10 to Yuma Movie Review

I wouldn't consider myself a fan of Westerns. "Fan", being a contraction for "fanatic", has lost a bit of its meaning in today's vernacular. But even when used loosely, I wouldn't say I was a fan of Westerns. But there are many Westerns that I happen to like.

I really wanted to like 3:10 to Yuma, starring Russell Crowe and Christian, both of whom I admire. I wanted to like Yuma so much that I actually committed to go watch the movie. Most of the time, I tell myself or whoever is within earshot that I want to go watch a certain movie because it looks good - like, Die Hard 4, for example - but I never actually make the effort to go and watch it. Movies like that tend to just pass me by and I end up watching it on DVD. (Which, for many reasons can make for a better viewing experience than the one you get at the theaters, these days. But that's another story for another time.)

So Yuma seemed obscure enough, independent enough, and seemed to focus enough on character development for me to make a new pact for myself: If there is a movie I want to watch, I have to up and go. I don't want to miss out on another well-reviewed movie just because I thought an opportunity to go watch it would fall into my lap.

Also to its credit, Yuma managed to attract two rough-and-tumble-style method actors who seem pretty finicky about the roles they accept. This was definitely enough reason to shell out $11 for tickets plus another $10.50 for a medium drink and nachos. If this movie had taken place in Medieval times or even in the year 2053, I might have gone to watch it for the reasons forementioned. But it being a Western seemed to place it squarely in the place writers and directors were allowed to create characters that could say what they meant and an environment where men can be men. With all of this going for it, it would seem that Yuma's outright disappointment would be far-fetched. Now, on to the review

Legs: 7

It's hard to rewatch a movie whose ending was so underwhelming. The build up to the climactic ending was so well done that the utter ridiculousness of the conclusion was made that much more disappointing. There were some memorable parts and quippy quotes sprinkled throughout the movie and it's conceivable that one would rewatch this movie to relive those moments, but I doubt that that individual, as fastiduous as he is for desiring to relive the virtues of this film scattered throughout, would do anything but eject the DVD when the final scene was upon him. More on why later.

The build-up of characters, motives, and overall tension in this film is so well done that, after the sheer laziness that plagued the ending was fully realized, it is the only film I remember that achieves the paradox of simultaneously being a 4-star blockbuster a half-star bomb.

Mission: 3 and 9

This is the first time I've ever given two grades for one category. Yuma does a superb job of building the audience's interest in its characters and meticulously peeling away each onion skin layer while slowly revealing the motives and history of each of its protagonists. It also does an excellent job of reinterpreting the classic Western genre. Action sequences are harsh and quick; like a punch in the jaw. The dialogue is smart, to the point, and clever. Sometimes even laugh-out-loud clever. It accomplishes just about everything it sets out to do from the start, but it fails miserably at the payoff and therefore renders everything else that came before it useless fluff.

Agenda: 7

There are several poignant moments in the movie where Dan (Bale) has to take inventory of himself - swallow pride, risk life and limb - do what he must to take care of his family. Stories of personal sacrifice always resonate with me. But then these great moments where the director, James Mangold, manages to get you to really cheer for Dan, are counteracted by a distinct lack of skill and, as it turns out, quite a selfish personal motive. When under duress, Dan finally confesses to why he has taken on a life-threatening mission to bring outlaw Ben Wade (Crowe) to a Yuma Prison-bound train and the reason he gives makes you kind of throw up in your mouth.

Also, there is a very strong "self-restraint, humility, and silence is of paramount virtue" sort of theme woven through nearly every scene, but the definitive moral consequence to excercising that particular discipline never comes to fruition, leaving audiences wondering which path is better: stoic determination or gun-slinging loud-mouthedness? The answer is completely muddled and unclear.

Script: 8

I can't complain about the script. There are several scenes in this movie where the dialogue unfolds like a radio play. Smart writing is always what endears me to a film. For the most part, the script here is faultless.

Acting/Directing: 8

Aside from the abysmal ending, the acting and directing is fantastic. Bale and Crowe are both in top form. From the get-go you get the feeling that there is much more to these guys than meets the eye. And as the story unfolds and characters reveal more of themselves, your suspicions are proved correct. Some of the gunplay is kind of silly and unrealistic, but since Westerns are traditionally so, you can't really fault them for that nitpick.

{{SPOILER ALERT}}

So what's the big screwed-up ending?

Well, as you may have figured out, the premise of the story is that downtrodden, one-legged rancher named Dan takes on a mission to join a group of men whose responsibility is to escort a notorious outlaw to a train that will take him to a prison. Of course, his gang is determined to free him and that's where the conflict begins. Well, that's not really where it begins, (most of the movie is occupied with Dan and the group of men trying to get the wiley Wade to the train without Wade killing them or escaping) but that's where the climax is supposed to happen.

Unfotunately, the 10-minute walk from the hotel where Ben Wade and Dan are holed up to the train station is blocked by 30+ mercinaries that were promised a $200 reward by Ben Wad's right-hand-man if they shot and killed Dan.

So, this is where Dan finally shows off the mad skills he keeps alluding to throughout the movie, right? That's the big payoff, isn't it? All through the movie we hear bits and pieces of how Dan was the best shot in his regiment and we are on the edge of our seat through the duration of the movie waiting patiently to see him just lay waste to mofos. But he doesn't do anything cool. In fact, I don't remember him shooting more than two guys with a wide-spread shotgun.

And to make matters worse, the only reason he's able to get Ben Wade to the train is because he just about bawls when Wade has him in a lethal chokehold and Dan start whining about how he's not a hero and never has been. And he waxes on about how he was actually in retreat when his own mates accidentally shot off his leg and that's how he got his war wound. Practically embarrassed for him, Wade acknowledges that Dan's oldest son would only see his father with prideful eyes if he is able to accomplish this final mission. Wade actually has to volunteer to go with him to the train. How drole and unsatisfying.

To top if all off, for some retarded reason, Wade's Number One shoots and kills Dan as Wade steps onto the prison train. Then, for whatever mysterious reason, Wade kills the Number One and the remaining seven gang members. What? Then, in another inexplicable act, he STILL gets on the train anyway. But right after he gets on the train, he whistles for his faithful horse, who - in a Lone Ranger cliché - gallops over to the train. The implication, as the credits start to roll, is that Wade escapes shortly thereafter. It just makes no sense.

Some other logic gaps are:

- Why were there so many last-minute hired hands when they first left the hotel but then, at the train station, there were none?

- When Dan first pounded on the door of the prison train, some security guys - marshalls or prison guards or whatever - opened the door. But once Wade's Number One starts blasting and kills Dan, and in the entire 5 minutes thereafter, there are no guards anywhere to be seen.

- Why, if after the Marshall and his men offered up their guns to Wade's gang and still got shot dead, did the corporate railroad guy think he could walk away and not get killed?

- If Ben Wade didn't want to go to the train, there was no way one guy could make him go without putting him under the threat of death. Especially not a one-legged rancher. And he couldn't really threaten him with death anyway because the only way Dan would get the $200 promised to him is if he delivered Wade to Yuma alive.

But whatever. It's just a movie.

It's just not a great movie.