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Crowe And Bale Sit Tall In The Saddle

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By CHRISTY LEMIRE, The Associated Press

Published: September 7, 2007

You hear that a movie like '3:10 to Yuma' is being remade and the immediate reaction is, 'Why?'

The 1957 Western, about an intellectual outlaw and the indebted rancher who's volunteered to help deliver him to prison, was solid and still holds up well today.

So 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. Moviegoers aren't exactly clamoring for a Western these days, and a masterwork of the genre hasn't come along since 'Unforgiven' in 1992. But the acting is so powerful here and the craftsmanship is so superb, it's bound to draw fans both old and new, and deservedly so.

Based on the short story by Elmore Leonard, the film follows the unlikely alliance that forms between the dangerous Ben Wade (Crowe) and the damaged Dan Evans (Bale) over the course of a couple of days in the craggy Arizona desert.
Peter Fonda leads the strong supporting cast as an explosive bounty hunter who's not to be underestimated, despite his advancing age, but the wiry Ben Foster nearly upstages his more famous co-stars as Wade's loyal but volatile right-hand man.

The relationship that develops between Wade and Evans is, of course, the crux of the film. They are inherently different and their goals are at odds with each other, yet they can't help finding themselves fascinated by one another.

Evans has been in serious financial straits for a while, trying to keep his ranch running during a drought in the late 1800s. He could just give up and sell his land to the Southern Pacific railroad, which is in the midst of stretching out to the coast. Or he could fight back and try to maintain his dignity - and restore the faith his wife (Gretchen Mol) and 14-year-old son (Logan Lerman) so clearly have lost in him.

Into this turmoil, and into town, ride Ben Wade and his gang, fresh off a bank stagecoach heist.

Wade takes his time dallying with a sultry bar maid (Vinessa Shaw) and is captured. It'll take a group of men to escort him to the nearby town of Contention and place him on the 3:10 train headed to Yuma prison. Evans, a Civil War veteran who lost part of his leg, may not seem the best equipped for the job but he needs the $200 it pays.

His quietly abiding sense of right and wrong, however, also drives him - and it makes him a source of wonder for Wade, who does whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Crowe, with his infinite capacity for both charm and darkness, reveals all the colors of his character's personality subtly, brilliantly.

You don't normally think of Bale as a downtrodden underdog but he's every bit Crowe's equal, with his piercing eyes that suggest a nervous energy buzzing underneath. Crowe taunts him and tempts him but he's more than up for the challenge.

MOVIE REVIEW

3:10 to Yuma ***½

MOVIE BOARD RATING: R (violence and profanity)

STARS: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Ben Foster, Gretchen Mol, Logan Lerman, Peter Fonda
DIRECTOR: James Mangold
LOCATION: For locations, see Quick Flicks, Page 6; see Page 8 for movie times.

PLOT SUMMARY: A downtrodden rancher matches wits with a captured outlaw.

RUNNING TIME: 117 minutes

ON THE WEB: 310toyuma

thefilm.com

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