Dumb as a box of rocks

Rating: 4/10 (9 January 2008)

And that means the writers and producers and the director. The supporting cast was great. And their talents were wasted. All through the movie the LAWMEN are running FROM the bad guys. Trying every way they can to avoid a confrontation. The whole story falls apart near the end when the local sheriff and his boys have the perfect opportunity to ambush Ben Wade's gang from upstairs hotel windows (the gang is in the middle of the street below on their horses) but instead throw down their guns and throw themselves on the "mercy" of cold blooded, sadistic killers. Guess what happens. I could tell you WHY the ending is such a syrupy, sappy, sophomoric crock of dung beetle bait but that would require a "spoiler." Let's just say that all through the movie Russell Crowe's character is proud of the fact that he has no socially redeeming qualities whatsoever and then suddenly, almost instantly becomes a saint. Well, that's Hollywood. They made William Bonney, Jesse James, Wyatt Earp and Buford Pusser heroes.