Little Big Man manufactures more than its reasonable share of laughs within the genre, yet director Arthur Penn creates a unique blend of cinema that remains Western, yet rises far beyond the level of the ordinary. Silverado is an example of a Western that makes too much fun of the genre to be altogether successful. The primary pleasures of Lawrence Kasdan's lighthearted dip into the genre are the fact that Westerns were simply not being made in 1985 when Silverado appeared. However, Kasdan's actors are a delight to watch and they fare better than the script. There are elements that must be found in a film to label it a Western.
Conflict resides in the guts of all Westerns.
We need good guys and bad guys, although the differences can sometimes be blurred. Capturing a sense of the great outdoors is fundamental precept of the greater number of Westerns. Often a chase is the driving force behind a Western's plot. A changing way of life is frequently the focus of genre treatment and pioneers are found as unsung heroes. There is really no firm description that can lasso the genre.