not as forceful or fiery as it could be yet a solid showing nonetheless

Rating: Null/10 (19 November 2007)

Ben Wade and Dan Evans; two men on opposite sides of the law. Evans is a Civil War veteran-turned-impoverished rancher, husband, and father of two driven by an uncompromising moral conviction that he hopes will allow God to grant him a break; Wade is a nefarious, elusive, immoral outlaw whose reputation makes him a lucrative target for lawmen. Their interaction is the basis for this test of wills tale set in the Old West, as the rancher goes on a courageous mission to turn the outlaw in despite the insurmountable odds that face him, including the outlaw's bloodthirsty henchmen hot on his trail. Long, with direction that's a bit too leisure, but made worthwhile by strong acting and good storytelling. Aussie Crowe and Welshman Bale are an uncommon casting choice for a film of this genre, but they're both effective in creating believable characters. ***