Best Western since Tombstone

Rating: 8/10 (15 January 2008)

This remake of the classic 50's western was truly one of the most entertaining movie-going experiences I've had this year. Christian Bale and Russell Crowe again do not disappoint. Both actors add a level of depth to characters that could've just as easily been archetypes for good and evil. And the movie itself could've easily been edited down to receive a PG or PG-13 rating, but I'm glad the filmmakers decided against that in order to show the grittiness of the Old West. The supporting actors also did a fantastic job, especially Ben Foster. Foster has been surprising me lately with how he disappears into a role. I didn't recognize him as The Stranger in "30 Days of Night", just the same as his role as Charlie Prince in this film. Some may argue that this doesn't live up to the original, but the strong performances all around and the grittiness lacking in the original should set this apart.