3:10 to Yuma

Ten years before director James Mangold gave Wolverine his last hurrah in the western-styled Logan, there was the remake of the popular 1957 western, 3:10 to Yuma in 2007 starring Christian Bale and Russell Crowe. This came two years after the director found critical acclaim with Walk the Line and three years before he would lose some of that goodwill with Knight and Day but he has continued to this day to offer a variety of stories most recently with the excellent Le Mans 66, and then with the not-so-loved fifth Indiana Jones film. Whatever he's doing, he remains a name I enjoy following and 3:10 was the first film that introduced me to his work. 

The story follows the capture of a notorious outlaw, played by Crowe, and the rag tag team, including Bale's impoverished husband, assigned to ensuring he gets onboard a train several towns over that will see him sent straight to prison. The journey will take the crew through dangerous territory in the baron lands of the old west but the real danger comes from outlaw's unhinged second in command, played by Ben Foster, who is hellbent on rescuing his boss. 

What follows is a perfectly constructed western that boasts a talented cast, an excellent score and engaging screenplay which has kept me hooked on each viewing. Bale and Crowe are both great in the leading roles as the two unlikely characters placed together but the real star here is Foster who gives a 110% villainous performance with an appropriate amount of relish. But what also really helps this film is the lack of CGI and use of real locations that make it feel gritty and real. The image carries with it plenty of grain and this is more noticeable today than when this released due to the amount of digitally shot films which can just look too clean to their detriment. 

If I had to find fault with this though, there is one character death which felt off and abrupt when there was to be drawn from that individual. I won't spoil and I forgot it was coming on my last watch until then moment where it briefly took me out of the film, and could have been better handled. But it is only a minor quibble and occurs midway through leaving plenty of runtime left to help move on and enjoy the rest.

3:10 to Yuma came out in a year of revisionist styled westerns when this remains true to the genre's roots and will easily satisfy fans. Newcomers will also find plenty to enjoy thanks to Mangold's great direction and use of the characters which will keep most happily engaged through to sundown making this a easy recommendation.