Some time ago, after finally seeing
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,
I made a post with some thoughts I had about it and its reception. Well, I just finished watching that other 2007 western,
3:10 to Yuma, so I thought it fitting I give it the same treatment. Blog Cabins, your home of up-to-date commentary and analysis!
(Major spoilers ahead)
I recall much being made at the time about the film's ending. People seemed to love it or hate it, with most falling in the latter camp. Me, I don't get what the big deal was. What, just because the villain - proven time and again during the film to be looking out for no one but himself (and perhaps his right-hand man, Charlie Prince - suddenly, incomprehensibly does a 180-degree turn, sacrifices himself and massacres his own posse? Was that it? What's the problem there? Seemed totally in line with the events of the prior 120 minutes.
The awful ending notwithstanding, I still enjoyed the film overall. The desert landscapes are shot beautifully, the cast is well-rounded and deep (though the Luke Wilson appearance was a bit jarring). Ben Foster is featured prominently in a role that's not only the best of his that I've seen, but one that might have been in the Val Kilmer/Doc Holliday echelon had he been given a few more memorable lines.
7 people have chosen wisely: on "Ok, so I finally saw 3:10 to Yuma..."
Glad you finally saw it. I thought it was pretty right on, didn't doubt for a moment that Crowe's character had a little silver lining to him and would do the right thing. I was also glad to see Gretchen Moll back. Where did she go?
The whole movie is worth it if only for the line "Even bad men love their mamas."
Glad ya finally caught it
I'm not a big fan of westerns (or Crowe), but I loved 3:10 to Yuma. And I had no problems with the ending at all. I thought it was good, because Crowe shows hints throughout the film of growing respect for Christian Bale's character. And when Bale sticks to his guns against all odds to finish the job he set out to do, Crowe gains a super amount of respect for the guy. So when, at the end, his crew shoots Bale, Crowe is jarred by it. He takes vengeance on his crew for Bale and gets on the train to show that Bale successfully finished his job and didn't die for nothing. And then, right before the credits roll, you hear him call his horse... so he's still in it for himself and he's not going back to jail, but he finished what Bale started out of the massive respected he had garnered for him.
Honestly, I thought it was a beautiful ending, and I felt it made perfect sense (sad or not).
Mike - Moll was shamed for years for her nag of a character in Rounders (and something unmentionable that you'll have to ask me about later). She's pretty good here, but I could take or leave her.
Hatter - that was a good line, but I say the whole thing was worth it for Foster's character. What a friggin' badass, though is it sad when he's more compelling than either lead?
Nick - but there's that little thing called suspension of disbelief, and I just wasn't willing to travel that far. He showed the capacity to kill 'one of his own' earlier, but it was in his own interest. To kill them all, after they had spent the entire film coming back for him, risking their lives for nothing but the service of loyalty to their leader...good god, I'da been pissed if I was one of them. And for what? Some emasculated rancher with a sob sob missing leg and kid w/ TB story?
Too hard to believe. Shooting one of them (Charlie)? Possibly. All of them...and then voluntarily getting on the train? Gimme a f*cking break (even with the cutesy horse whistle).
i liked it for the most part but any movie that has a guy shooting at a stick of dynamite and blowing up a guy and his horse is aces in my book.
I hated her in Rounders, but she was great in that Bettie Page flick.
For the record, I'm digging the Ben Foster love. I <3 that guy. Totally underappreciated.
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