A period-perfect, witty, well-played and exciting Western is all but ruined in the final minutes by someone the screenwriters, a star who insisted on image-flattering changes, a director feeling his Walk the Line oats.
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
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Reviews Counted:202
Fresh:178
Rotten:24
Average Rating:7.5/10
Consensus: The remake of this classic Western improves on the original, thanks to fiery performances from Russell Crowe and Christian Bale as well as sharp direction from James Mangold.
Theatrical Release:Sep 7, 2007 Wide
Box Office: $53,574,088
Synopsis: Based on the Elmore Leonard story, 3:10 TO YUMA is a riveting remake of the 1957 classic Western. It's the story of Dan Evans (Christian Bale), a down-and-out rancher who lost his leg in the Civil... Based on the Elmore Leonard story, 3:10 TO YUMA is a riveting remake of the 1957 classic Western. It's the story of Dan Evans (Christian Bale), a down-and-out rancher who lost his leg in the Civil War. With a wife and two sons, he is struggling to put food on the table, and unable to make payments on his land. When the notorious gunman Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) is apprehended nearby, a few local men are needed to escort him to the town of Contention so he can be put on the 3:10 train to Yuma Prison. Few will volunteer for the job, as they know that Wade's ruthless gang will follow them, but Evans sees an opportunity to make some fast cash, and offers to go in exchange for $200. The small team of men set off, and are later joined by Evans's young son William (Logan Lerman), who has run away from home to join them. What follows is a race against time, as the group tries to get to Yuma without the clever and dangerous Wade outsmarting them. Crowe is fantastic as the smooth-talking gunman, and Bale delivers a moving performance as the weary-eyed Evans. The two men are perfect foils for each other. Wade is the infamous gunman, living the high life on the wrong side of the law, while Evans, who has struggled to lead an honest life, has only faced one hardship after another. It is a classic tale of good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, and yet, by the story's end, it becomes harder to separate the good guys from the bad. As the clock ticks down, the film builds to an emotional nail-biter of an ending, reminiscent of BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID. [More]
Starring: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Peter Fonda, Gretchen Mol
Starring: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Peter Fonda, Gretchen Mol, Dallas Roberts, Ben Foster, Alan Tudyk, Vinessa Shaw, Logan Lerman
Director: James Mangold
Director: James Mangold
Screenwriter: Halstead Welles, Michael Brandt, Derek Haas
Producer: Cathy Konrad
Composer: Marco Beltrami
Studio: Lions Gate Films
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Reviews for 3:10 to Yuma
Those who have a deeper abiding love for the western genre than I, may love the new Yuma. I liked a good deal of it -- just enough to be frustrated by the clutter.
The presence of two great actors already puts a few points in the win column, and 3:10 to Yuma rolls along efficiently like a wagon with finely tuned wheels.
Apart from the final minutes of the film that strike its only false note, 3:10 to Yuma barrels down the track at full force.
All too often the action will become a bewildering blur of staging rather than an enthralling construct of violence, increasing the already nagging chorus of logic gaps that do their best to undermine the film.
It's way too early to signal the rebirth of the western at the movies, but if it happens, it'll be because of smart and thoughtful entertainment like this that sucks audiences in whether or not they care how the West was won.
How would today's actors look in the sort of hats once worn by James Stewart, Alan Ladd and John Wayne? If Crowe and Bale are any indication, pretty good.
Crowe adopts a stance of detached bemusement, his eyes alight at what he's watching, almost as if he's decided to play along with his adversary's dogged persistence... just to see where they'll end up.
A preposterous piece of soulless thievery that the understandably ignorant will enjoy.
3:10 to Yuma is a complex, captivating film that allows the audience to draw its own conclusions.
a masterpiece of psychological drama coupled with a darn fine action flick that uses the classic western as its idiom. And then turns it on its head.
It's respectful of its predecessor, and when it does make changes to the existing template, they aren't preposterous or pandering -- rather, they merely take another logical path than the one employed in the previous version.
The performances of Mr. Crowe and Mr. Bale alone are worth the price of admission.
3:10 to Yuma rehashes western motifs -- those civilization/wilderness, essence of manhood themes -- but builds up to a poorly plotted, shoddily executed gun battle.
If 3:10 to Yuma can't generate life into that most moribund of genres, the western, then it's probably time to consign the idea to Boot Hill and be done with it.
A wonderfully old-fashioned western that works in contemporary terms--a rousing demonstration that people can make the kinds of pictures they supposedly don't make anymore.
Maybe this redo didn’t need so many bells and whistles, but Mangold brings it home.
three great performances that will satisfy you even if you don’t like cowboy flicks.
It's a wonderful surprise to discover that this new version, starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale and directed by James Mangold, not only remains true to its roots but expands on them in ways that are thrilling and thoroughly entertaining.
Latest News for 3:10 to Yuma
January 18, 2008:
Down but Not Out, HD DVD Soldiers On
The clock hasn't stopped ticking on the format, but HD DVD consumers can look forward to seeing new films on store shelves -- for at least the next few months, anyway. More...
January 07, 2008:
RT on DVD: 3:10 to Yuma, Sunshine Arrive!
Tasty treats are in store for us this week at the video counter, where you'll find an action-packed Western (3:10 to Yuma), a 2007 space odyssey (Sunshine), new stoner laughs... More...
December 21, 2007:
Awards Mania: Spirits, SAGs Get Waivers, Announce Nominations; Uncertainty Surrounds Golden Globes
Just when you think awards season can't get any awards-ier, here come two more sets of nominations! More...
December 14, 2007:
Atonement, Control Lead London Film Critics Noms
The London Critics Circle has announced the nominees for its year-end awards, with Anton Corbijn's Control and Joe Wright's Atonement leading the pack at eight nominations apiece. More...
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