James Mangold (Walk the Line) directs Christian Bale and Russell Crowe in one of the best onscreen pairings in years, 3:10 to Yuma.
Bale is Dan Evans, a penniless rancher on the verge of losing his house. He lands the opportunity to earn $200 by helping a ragtag group put outlaw Ben Wade on the 3:10 train to Yuma prison.
The group is composed of Western/action movie types, including the unbearable braggart who somehow sneaks onto the good side. Often in movies with a sympathetic villain, this is the character you really want to see get it. And get it he does.
In terms of archetype, Wade is a dark play on the artist. He draws and is impulsive, vengeful and seductive. He stands in sharp contrast to Evans, the soft-spoken family man and war veteran.
The hate and admiration from these two is palpable, especially from Evans, who, hobbling along on his one good leg, is a man broken both in body and spirit-a type which can’t help but envy a gunman who knows no fear.
What Ben Wade learns from Dan Evans, however, is the lasting impression this film should leave you with. As much as he taunts and chides Evans, Wade sees in him the father and husband he might have been in another life. How else can a killer feel watching a one-legged man stand up to insurmountable odds?
Sure, it’s part of his character arch, but it resonates because in the end we all want to feel like Wade does, that no matter what we’ve done in all our human fallibility, we can be better. Redemption is a choice.
However, the choices Wade makes to redeem himself in the last seven or so minutes leave you scratching your head.
This ending is faithful to the 1957 original, so it will please viewers not fond of remake divergence. Wade’s actions stretch credibility, but not enough to break your enjoyment of the film.