3:10 to Yuma (2007)

3:10 to Yuma is a remake of a lesser-known western of the same name from 1957 starring Glen Ford and Van Heflin. Both films are adaptations of an even lesser-known short story by Elmore Leonard. The overall plot is mostly similar, with a bit of added back-story and character depth to make things more interesting. The story focuses on two main characters: A poor rancher named Dan Evens (Christian Bale) and a notorious outlaw named Ben Wade (Russell Crowe). Ben Wade is the charismatic leader of a gang of outlaws. After robbing a heavily armed wagon guarding a large sum of cash, he stays too long in town and is caught by the locals. The posse is formed up promising good pay and a need for men that would be hell bent on getting Wade to the station. Enter Dan Evens. Dan Evens is a veteran who lost a foot during the Civil War; the circumstances of the lost foot caused him to be shunned by the community and even his oldest son doesn’t respect him (though the father/son relationship is probably the weakest subplot in the film). Financially, he’s not much better off. The landowner cut off his water (by damming up a creek) and expects him to leave the property so he can sell it to a railroad company. It seems like a no-brainer that Dan would join up with the posse that is to take Ben Wade to the train station that will send him to Yuma where he’ll be hanged. The pay is good, and it couldn’t hurt his standing in the public eye. It is only later on in the film, when all odds are stacked against him and he no longer has a reason to continue the mission that his true character comes out.

Westerns are a bit of a rarity these days, so right off the bat it’s refreshing to see such a big budget production of the Wild West. I think that it’s because there are so few westerns that the cast is made up of known actors: Peter Fonda plays a minor role as the miserable old bounty hunter, Ben Foster is the sadistic second in command of Wade’s gang, Gretchen Mol is Dan’s wife, and even Luke Wilson makes a random cameo as some thug working construction in a tunnel for a railroad. Director James Mangold (Walk the Line), shot the entire film in New Mexico, though it takes place in Arizona, and the location shots are incredible. The setting adds a level of authenticity to the story and adds to every shot of the journey to the station; they pass through canyons and countryside that are just beautiful to look at. The acting is good from everyone, but especially the two leads. In fact, the real highlight of the film comes from the interactions between Dan and Wade. Christian Bale plays Dan as very reserved and depressed which contrasts greatly with Russell Crowe’s charm and personality. Its Dan’s sense of honor and knowledge of what’s right that is so strong, even a character like Ben Wade, who in the beginning of the film kills one of his own men unapologetically, could respect him. Christian Bale makes the performance quiet and genuine while Russell Crowe plays Ben Wade as not only likable despite how bad he is, but probably the most dangerous person on earth. There is rarely a moment where you don’t feel that he is completely in control of the situation; he lets everything happen because it amuses him. It’s a good thing that this is the best part of the film because without it, the ending does not work. The action scenes are pretty good and well thought-out considering that despite the odds, the finale is relatively believable. The idea of redemption and doing what’s right no matter the cost is a pretty clear message of the film, and a powerful one. It’s hard not to root for Dan, who despite having every reason to turn back and go home, pushes on anyway if only because he thinks its right.