With “3:10 to Yuma,” director James Mangold has managed to resurrect the Western from the cavernous depths of extinction. Christian Bale and Russell Crowe square off in this spectacularly energized remake that genuinely out does the original in its lasting effect on the audience. An excellent character study unfolds as we see two men, with more similarities than they like to admit, go at each other through a wide array of brute intimidation and acerbic bickering.
Crowe turns Ben Wade into a smug, sharp-edged outlaw with little concern for others, while Bale takes a dedicated farmer like Dan Evans and presents an honest, vocally reserved family man with everything to lose. Both are fiercely involved in these characters and Mangold’s steady direction allows them to avoid getting too over-the-top or self-indulgent with their delivery.
With a stimulating script and few dull moments, “Yuma” is definitely one of the best films of the year and could be headed for glory come January.
- *** ½ out of 4
Last night’s premiere of “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” was an interesting affair. The crowd was anxious and the staff was more than equipped to deal with insufficient seating arrangements. As for the film itself, it was just so-so.
Cate Blanchett delivers yet another bravura performance that pulsates with unlimited wit and intensity as Elizabeth I, but her supporting cast could’ve been better handled. Geoffrey Rush and Clive Owen are admirable, but their characters weren’t really demanding enough to bring out the supreme talent they possess. Owen’s Sir Walter Raleigh is soft, conceited, and not nearly interesting enough to justify his bulky storyline. I don’t believe that his relationship with Elizabeth was that intimate, but I suppose Shekhar Kapur’s creative license takes precedent over historical accuracy.
In the end, it’s really an extravagant one-woman show in which Blanchett returns to the role that made her a Hollywood sensation almost a decade ago. The costume and set design are certainly up to the academy’s standards, but the overall feel of the film just doesn’t add anything new to the mix.
- *** out of 4 (Cate is my favorite actress, so I’ll love her in anything.)
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