MM Aims Its Six Shooter at 15 Modern Westerns

by Kyle Rupprecht | Published September 17, 2008

(Page 2)

Open Range (2003)
Thirteen years after Dances with Wolves, Costner returned to the director’s chair for another Western tale. The actor-director stars as a former soldier forced to take up arms when a corrupt town marshal threatens him and his cattle crew. Co-starring Robert Duvall and Annette Bening, the film received mostly positive notices from fans and critics for its gritty approach to the genre. At 139 minutes, the movie runs under Costner’s previous directorial effort’s 181 minutes, making Open Range that much more enjoyable.

The Missing (2003)
The eclectic Ron Howard directed this gritty movie, loosely based on The Searchers. Set in 1885 Mexico, the film concerns an estranged father (Tommy Lee Jones) visiting his adult daughter, Maggie (Cate Blanchett), a frontier medicine woman, in an attempt at reconciliation. He discovers that Maggie’s daughter has been kidnapped and the once distant pair is forced to work together to rescue her. With its thriller-tinged atmosphere and supernatural overtones, The Missing isn’t your typical Western.

3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Based on an Elmore Leonard short story (which also inspired a 1957 film of the same name), 3:10 to Yuma is arguably one of the best modern Westerns on this list. Christian Bale stars as small-time rancher Dan Evans who agrees to escort dangerous outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) to the 3:10 train to the town of Yuma, where Wade will await trial for murder. Along the perilous journey to the station, the two men engage in a battle of wits in which both transcend the obvious “good versus evil” battle that concerns them—creating psychologically complex characters that the audience cares about. But, make no mistake, the film isn’t solely character-driven. There are old-fashioned shootouts galore and an uber-creepy supporting performance from Ben Foster as Wade’s psychotic right-hand man.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Everything you need to know about this leisurely paced character study is pretty much summed up in that mouthful of a title. Based on the book by Ron Hansen, the film delves into the final years of the life of infamous outlaw Jesse James (Brad Pitt), who was shot in the head by Robert Ford (Casey Affleck), a young man who idolized and, in some respects, wanted to be James. Despite the movie-star presence of Pitt, the real heart of the film is Affleck, who gives a creepily intense yet sympathetic performance as lifelong loser Ford, whose only claim to fame is killing James. With its emphasis on character rather than action and dreamy cinematography by Roger Deakins, the film brought an unconventional twist to the Western.

And the runners up...

Dead Man (1995)
Deadpan, idiosyncratic moviemaker Jim Jarmusch directed this oddball black-and-white answer to the Western. Johnny Depp stars as William Blake, an accountant on the run after murdering a man. Blake’s journey leads to an encounter with a strange Native American named “Nobody” who prepares the accountant for his journey into the spiritual world. With its slow pace, minimalist dialogue and symbolism-heavy plot, the film never caught on with mainstream audiences, but developed an enthusiastic cult following over the years.

Lone Star (1996)
Independent auteur John Sayles helmed this critically acclaimed modern day Western-mystery in which Chris Cooper plays Sheriff Sam Deeds who, after the skeleton of his murdered predecessor is found, unearths many other long-buried secrets in his Texas border town. Lone Star, which co-stars Matthew McConaughey and Frances McDormand, garnered much attention during awards season, including a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination for Sayles’ taut script.

Down in the Valley (2005)
Though far from a typical Western, this film is a fascinating deconstruction of the genre. Edward Norton stars as Harlan, a delusional, possibly dangerous man who believes he’s a cowboy and seems to live his life according to the Old West mythos. After arriving in San Fernando Valley, Harlan strikes up an intimate relationship with a rebellious teenager (Evan Rachel Wood). This ambitious, at times surreal, film depicts modern-day San Fernando Valley as the new American West, one in which quaint small towns are revealed to be Western movie sets.

Brokeback Mountain (2005)
It’s hard to imagine this Oscar-winning tearjerker being made in the golden age of Westerns. Based on an Annie Proulx short story and co-scripted by Lonesome Dove novelist Larry McMurtry, the tragic film revolves around the forbidden and secretive romantic relationship between two cowboys (Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger) over their years as cattle herders. The unconventional Western was a surprise success with both audiences and critics, earning an Oscar win for Ang Lee’s direction and a Best Picture nomination.

Appaloosa (2008)
The latest modern Western to hit theaters stars writer-director Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen (reuniting after playing enemies in A History of Violence) as two friends hired to patrol a small town that is suffering under the rule of a tyrannical rancher (Jeremy Irons). The men find their job further complicated by the arrival of a young widow (Renée Zellweger) who catches their eye. Though audience reception has yet to be determined, anticipation and critical praise are high, making this movie a future contender for a Top 10 spot.

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Comment by vaniya on 9/17/10 at 8:23 am: I found nothing of substantial value. Bound in Blood is an average shooter that skids, dips and shifts into complete mediocrity or below. Playing the game is an exercise in apathy—it’s neither solid nor liquid. In other words, it isn’tcompelling…
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Comment by صور on 12/21/10 at 2:52 pm: thank you very much
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Comment by صور on 12/21/10 at 2:53 pm: thank you very much
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