Traditional western with some modern touches

Rating: 8/10 (16 May 2010)

This is a decent western, very much in the traditional modern, with put-upon rancher Christian Bale among the small party escorting ruthless but charming outlaw Russell Crowe to his appointment with the train taking him to prison.
In the modern way, it features crisp photography with saturated colours - it is a rich looking movie.
The story is always interesting, with several sub-plots threaded through it - the battle against Bale's neighbouring rancher, and the fractured relationship between father and son both working well with the main plot.
All the cast are very good although Bale and Crowe are the two headliners, all the secondary players are convincing too.
An enjoyable western notwithstanding the vastly unlikely ending.