Great for a Western

Rating: 8/10 (6 April 2008)

In recent years, there have not been many westerns which have been as popular and successful as this one. Russell Crowe is so strong here that he actually makes you like the villain in the film, and the well-grounded features of his co-lead played by Christian Bale rub off on him. Crowe and Bale make the film which would otherwise be set aside as just another western in an era where they have not been so popular.
Crowe plays the gang leader with sympathy, as a lover, artist, Bible quoter who tries to keep the other psychos in line. Bale is so believable as the scrappy war-injured rancher and family man.
I wish that the ending would have been a little different, or more positive for the poor family man just trying to do the right thing. Many things in life are beyond our control, and the major point of this film crystallizes that out all too well.