The return of the decent western

Rating: 8/10 (23 September 2007)

Russell Crowe is the leader of an outlaw gang. Christian Bale is an impoverished rancher who, desperate for money, is persuaded to escort Crowe to a prison train. On the way they encounter hostile Apache, vengeful railroad workers and, not least, the outlaw gang as they seek to rescue him. Crowe has a great presence, switching effortlessly between menacing and charming throughout the film.
It was good to see Peter Fonda back on the screen, too, playing a bounty hunter.
It's beautifully filmed, with a number of exciting set pieces.
Still, one thing puzzled me - why did Crowe's character make some of the decisions he did towards the end of the movie? I won't go into spoiler territory, but some of his moves seemed confusing and illogical.
Anyway...excellent as Crowe is, he is upstaged by psychotic gang member Ben Foster, one of the most frightening characters to appear in the movies since Trainspotting's Begbie.
All told, this is a western that's well worth seeing.