Clocking in for 3:10 to Yuma

Rating: 8/10 (2 October 2012)

Remake of the 1957 John Ford's movie with the same title, it follows the story of a small-time rancher agrees to hold a captured outlaw who's awaiting a train to go to court in Yuma hints its title. A battle of wills ensues as the outlaw tries to psych out the rancher and try to escape. Christian Bale plays Dan Evans, the rancher who is trying to escort the outlaw to the train due to him being in financial trouble and is on the verge of losing his ranch. Dan Evans is also a Civil War veteran with a tortured past, during the war he lost his foot and ever since he has struggled both physically and emotionally explaining the reason why he is in a financial mess. This is compounded by the fact that his own son looks up to Wade more than him. This makes Christian Bale's character, a bitter man. Russell Crowe plays Ben Wade, a highly dangerous outlaw trying to outwit the rancher. He is a bit cocky at times, but Russell Crowe pulls up a likable character out of the brutal bandit. He is amazing and showed a variety of different sides to himself. The way, he let silence himself, and then do the talking for him in some scenes is incredible. It was a kick back/tone type approach. The way he approached the love interest scene and the leading to that was one of the most beautiful scenes in the movie. It was very moving. This create an unspoken bond develops between the two characters that I found a little bit confusing at times but by the end of the film you just go along with it. The supporting cast isn't half bad. I love Peter Fonda's role even if it's a small cameo. Ben Foster as Charles Prince really does look the part of a outlaw. The shootout at the end is the best I have seen in a western for a good couple of years even if it doesn't make any sense. The movie scenes doesn't flow right. It cuts and jumps around like crazy. The movie has too much close ups, so we lose the wide sets and sceneries in some shots so unlike John Ford who use the sceneries to make his Westerns look epic in size. In no way, does this movie beats out John Ford's classic. Still, I would highly recommend that you go and see this James Mangold's film and would give it a try.