3:10 to Yuma

Today’s quick review: 3:10 to Yuma. Dan Evans (Christian Bale), a cattle rancher struggling to support his family, takes the dangerous job of escorting the prisoner Ben Wade (Russell Crowe), a charismatic stage coach robber, to a nearby town in time for the next train to Yuma Prison. Standing in Dan’s way are the rest of Wade’s gang, led by the vicious killer Charlie Prince (Ben Foster), and two days of hard travel with the cunning prisoner.

3:10 to Yuma is a Western with a dramatic tone and a surprising amount of heart. Russell Crowe and Christian Bale share the spotlight as a notorious outlaw and a desperate family man escorting him to prison, respectively. The film features rich character development, engrossing writing, several impressive performances, and a fair dose of Western action. 3:10 is a polished, well-rounded film that hits the mark it is aiming for.

3:10 to Yuma’s most notable feature is its pair of leads. Christian Bale sells Dan Evans, a crippled Civil War veteran driven to desperate measures, as a layered character with hidden resilience. For his part, Russell Crowe as Ben Wade is soft-spoken, polite, and lethal, a constant threat to Dan and the rest of the posse. The two men have an excellent dynamic; each one reveals new depths to the other’s character as the film goes on.

Fans of the Western genre, action movies, or drama in general will want to give 3:10 to Yuma a shot. Its remarkable craftsmanship and well-judged characters and plot make it a solid hit, if a somber one, that most viewers will enjoy. Skip it if you’re looking for something lighter. For a Western with a more adventurous tone, try Tombstone. For one with a similarly strong story and even better execution, try The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

7.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for rock-solid storytelling backed by strong dramatic performances.

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