An exhilarating ride elevated by its characters

Rating: 7/10 (6 January 2008)

I quite loved it. Westerns are the one genre that I always seem to enjoy but are rarely made, and this was a fantastic, old-school, kick-ass genre flick. Not only does it have some exhilarating action scenes and some good 'ol shootouts, but it's got a great story with ample amounts of depth, solid characters, and a terrific ending. Crowe and Bale play off each other perfectly, with the former's charisma and wit contrasting excellently with the latter's subtlety and stoicism. And the finale, while eschewing logic and reason for an adrenaline rush, makes perfect thematic and even narrative sense. It's not overtly stylistic or artistic, but it is a fantastic thrill ride of a movie that's a near-masterpiece of the genre.