Movie Review: 3:10 to Yuma

In general I do not consider myself a fan of the Western genre. Although I enjoy a good Western when I see one I am not the kind of person who goes and sees every Western movie that come out (All of which seem to star Robert Duvall nowadays). However I do recognize the Western as a genre special to us in America and it is true that few and fewer Westerns are being made, and I have no doubt that the this trend will continue and the youth of today grow up pretending to be Spartans or Elites rather then Cowboys and Indians.
What initially drew me to the movie 3:10 to Yuma was Russell Crowe. Although many consider him overrated and incapable of playing complex emotional characters, I have been a fan of his since I first saw L.A. Confidential. I love the intensity that he brings to most of his roles and this movie is no exception.
In the film Crowe plays Ben Wade a criminal of some renown who is caught and then escorted by a posse to a train station to catch the 3:10 train to Yuma. One of the men who offer to escort Crowe’s character is rancher Dan Evans played by the ever capable Christian Bale. Bale plays a down on his luck rancher who lost one of his feet in the Civil War and has offered to escort the criminal for a fee that will keep his ranch going till spring. The plot unfolds as Dan Evans and company try to get Crowe to the train.
Although the film is what I would consider to be a bit dark, I did enjoy the film. I found the acting to be top quality and the production to be of high quality too. Both Crowe and Bale turn in excellent performances in a movie that really takes a look all different sides of right and wrong. I give it a good B.