Classic western films are not normally
labeled “sensitive.” Clint Eastwood did not
typically stop in the middle of a gunfight
to confess his innermost insecurities and
fears to an opponent. And John Wayne
did not intricately sketch naked women
after bedding them.
But “3:10 to Yuma” is not your average
western.
In this remake of a 1950s classic of the
same name, Russell Crowe plays Ben
Wade, a complex, vicious and thoughtful
outlaw who poor farmer Dan Evans
(Christian Bale) must deposit on the 3:10
train to Yuma to get paid a bounty of
$200. This money is integral if Evans is
going to save his dying ranch from
confiscation by a railroad company. Once
the train reaches Yuma, Wade is to be
hanged, and his vicious posse, led by
Wade’s crazed and devoted No. 2 man
(Ben Foster), aim to free their leader
before that happens.
Although the film sticks to tried-andtrue
western clichés – tough, selfinterested
men framed in soulful, bleak
desert landscapes shoot at one another
between romps at the local saloon – this
western is decidedly more complex. One
could argue this layer of sensitivity is a
reflection of how times have changed
since one-note misogyny was acceptable
and bankable on the big screen. On the
other hand, director James Mangold
might just understand better than some
of his predecessors what overarching
themes make a western successful: pride,
redemption and man-love.
Yes, you heard right: man-love. Male
bonding is a hugely important variable in
this version of “3:10 to Yuma,” as almost
all its major male characters are inspired
or influenced by their affection and
respect for other men. Although this
western is not displaying homosexual
characters (no, “Brokeback Mountain” can
take the cake there), the male characters
are complex, and accordingly, their
relationships with one another are
emotionally intricate, as well.
Even the two main characters, who
fight and banter viciously throughout
most of the plot, are eventually moved by
one another’s distinctly different
personalities and motivations.
Since his Oscar-winning role in “A
Beautiful Mind,” Crowe has drifted from
the limelight, taking only occasional roles.
Seeing him kill, metaphorically and
literally, in the role of Ben Wade reminds
audiences why Crowe was so great when
he first burst on the scene in the ’90s.
Crowe has a way of playing deeply
introspective characters while maintaining
an intense, on-screen physicality. This rare
physicality brings charisma and
authenticity to performances that could
otherwise be hammy,
one-note or unmemorable.
Though Bale is excellent in his performance
as well, his character is relatively dull to watch,
since he is a typically noble, self-righteous
farmer to the end. He is seeking the
respect of a family that has been
disenfranchised with him as a father and
as a provider.
Although Bale’s farmer struggles
internally with moral decisions in a few
key scenes, his relationship with his
teenage son is the heart of his story.
Bale’s character is a touch too good to
be an anti-hero, but Crowe’s character
drops hints of deeper meaning and inner
conflict in everything he does and says.
However, all this character development
would be pointless without a terrific
finale. “3:10 to Yuma” does not fail to
produce a conclusion that ties up loose
ends in a tragic, exhilarating and weirdly
believable way. On paper, this end might
seem trite or overdone, but on screen, the
actors’ performances make it remarkable.
For once, here is a film whose story
actually deserves to continue in that
dirtiest of all dirty words among film
critics – a sequel.
Grade: A