more of a drama than western

Rating: 8/10 (20 January 2008)

...which is not to say it doesn't have actions and explosions..it does and in plenty. But it delves more into the psyche of an eccentric outlaw(crowe), a one-legged rancher(bale) trying to *man* up for his family and children and the relationship that develops between them. Christian bale delivers good performance, just short of a great one. It reminds me of al pacino in donnie brasco. The normal tough guy playing the weakling. Its difficult for them to pull it off because the audience is used to seeing them in a different shade and they themselves have to let go of their normal selves and natural instincts to put up a character like that. There are times in this movie when Bale lets the normal Bale come to screen and i felt that at odds with how the rancher should have been. But thats only once or twice in otherwise a great performance.
The movie has its share of clichés, like a bible-reciting,painter,womanizer outlaw and others and heck i wouldn't say there is much novel about the story/screenplay. But it's just well done and there is no dull moment in the movie. The score is also reasonably good. My final word would be: its not an action/western as might seem and if thats all you are going for, this "might" be a disappointment. But its an entertainer alright and will definitely grab your attention for as long at it lasts.