Solid cast, disappointing product.

Rating: 6/10 (8 July 2008)

2007's remake of '3:10 to Yuma' is a rather minor entry in the western genre, but an enjoyable one at that. Following the recent resurgence of the genre, 'Yuma' is the latest to attract an A-list cast to saddle up and hit the open plains of the west. Exquisite film-making doesn't always reflect its quality, nor does it help a padded running time, but this remains a picture worth hopping onto.
Following in the footsteps of its 1957 original, '3:10 to Yuma' follows a poor but honest man's (Christian Bale) quest to deliver a famous criminal (Russell Crowe) to a railroads to catch the soonest jail-bound train to Yuma, Arizona. This is a well-meaning picture that attempts to say something about doing what is right versus what is easy, but 'Yuma' doesn't have enough depth to carry the weight of such a message. The very talented director James Mangold keeps the project together, but at times struggles greatly to keep the whole thing afloat when a bogged down second act tested this viewer's patience. Things reach that high-point payoff in the end that makes the trip worth the slow wait, but a two hour running time becomes excessive when there just isn't enough story to balance with.
'3:10 to Yuma' is up to its head in capable and talented actors. From Russell Crowe to Christian Bale facing off in a psychological cat-and-mouse game to Ben Foster and Peter Fonda. Fine performances are delivered across the board, but much like the film itself, very few standout moments are found here. Ben Foster, perhaps proving himself to be a very underrated actor, is the best among the group here. His snide demeanor and piercing accent gives the film a great push whenever he fills the screen, despite how maddening his character may be.
'Yuma' is a good film, but I find it far from great. It seems to take Mangold a long time to decide just what he wants this film to be, and by the time he does, it's very possible he's already lost the attention of some. There isn't a great deal to truly criticize here, because this is an undeniably well-made film. But in failing to drive things home in truly memorable fashion, 'Yuma' doesn't define the modern western and doesn't compare to recent efforts. But it's a solid outing for everyone involved, and at the end of the day, '3:10 to Yuma' manages to be an entertaining and at times blood-rushing thrill ride. It's just unfortunate that its attempt at morality doesn't come off as powerful as it would have hoped, because it kept this western from potentially being something much larger than itself.
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