Today’s quick review: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Bounty hunter Blondie (Clint Eastwood) and outlaw Tuco (Eli Wallach) run a lucrative scheme: Blondie turns in Tuco for the reward money, then cuts him free. When Blondie betrays Tuco, he sparks an escalating conflict with his former partner in crime. But their vendetta is put on hold when they cross paths with Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef), a ruthless killer on the trail of $200,000 in stolen gold coins.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a classic Western from director Sergio Leone. The third in his trilogy of Westerns starring Clint Eastwood, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly surpasses its predecessors in reputation, quality, and scope. The film tells a sprawling tale of greed and revenge that’s brought to life by a trio of talented leads, presented by a masterful director, and backed by impressive production values from start to finish.
The bedrock of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is its writing. The script shows sound judgment in everything from its dialogue to its story to its pacing. The interactions between the characters speak volumes about even the most minor figures. The details of the world capture many different facets of a cohesive, realistic whole. The plot does meander quite a bit, but the detours are always worthwhile in the end.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly builds on its foundation with skilled direction. The pacing of the movie is slow and deliberate. The camera constantly lingers on scenery and faces, contributing greatly to the film’s three-hour run time. But the payoff is robust drama and an excellent sense of tension. Every victory the movie earns, it earns the hard way. The style may not be to everyone’s liking, but those who embrace it will find it highly rewarding.
The film rounds out its key components with a memorable cast. Clint Eastwood reprises his role from the previous two films: a nameless bounty hunter with loose morals and a resourceful mind. He is joined once again by Lee Van Cleef, now in the role of the sadistic killer Angel Eyes. The duo are just as effective as before, giving the movie a pair of stoic, powerful leads to hang its plot off of.
Eli Wallach deserves special mention for his performance as Tuco, in many ways the heart of the film. Tuco is an earthy survivor with few scruples. His crude mannerisms and criminal nature should place him somewhere between antagonist and comic relief. But underneath the bluster and the backstabbing is a shockingly sympathetic character. The talkative newcomer serves as the perfect foil to Eastwood and Van Cleef and the glue that holds the story together.
The film’s side stories also carry a surprising amount of emotional weight. The three main characters chart a winding path in their search for the treasure, passing through the lives of soldiers, outlaws, priests, and civilians. These encounters only provide fragments of stories, but even these are enough to paint an evocative picture. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly portrays a cruel world where even brief moments of kindness shine brightly.
Other parts of the film make their mark as well. The iconic soundtrack by Ennio Morricone remains well-known to this day. The backdrop of the Civil War gives the movie plenty of dramatic fodder, ranging from personal glimpses of the war to full-blown battles. High production values let the movie tell the story it wants without compromise, peppering its journey with jaw-dropping set pieces.
Any viewer even remotely interested in Westerns should give The Good, the Bad and the Ugly a watch. It is the pinnacle of its genre and a rare movie that shows polish in its every facet. The price for its quality is substantial: a lengthy run time, slow pacing, and an indirect plot. But those willing to dedicate the time and attention needed to appreciate the film will be repaid for their effort in full.
8.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.5 for stellar performances, excellent writing, and sterling direction.