Russell Crowestarred in one of thebest Western remakes ever made,but it remains mostly ignored thanks to things out of its control. While there have not been many acclaimed Westerns that have hit theaters over the last 25 years, there have been at least three films considered the best of the century. However, this Crowe release is not among them.
A recent poll of industry professionalsranked two Western films from 2007among the top 10 films of this century, withNo Country for Old MenandThere Will Be Bloodincluded in the countdown. The Coen brothers also followedNo Country for Old Menwith the fantastic2010 Western remakeTrue Grit,an Oscar contender. However, few people talk about3:10 to Yuma.
3:10 To Yuma Is A Great Western Remake
Russell Crowe & Christian Bale Led A Fantastic Cast
In 1957, Glenn Ford and Van Heflinstarred in the Western film3:10 to Yuma.The story followed a local rancher who agreed to help transport the leader of a local gang of bank robbers to the train leading to the Yuma Penitentiary. Along the way, he must fight off the criminal gang as they attempt to free him, while also forming a bond with the charismatic gang leader.
James Mangold (Walk the Line, The Wolverine) directed the 2007 remake of the classic Western. The new version stars Russell Crowe as Ben Wade, the leader of a gang of outlaws who is eventually arrested, while Christian Bale stars as Dan Evans, a poor rancher who agrees to help transport him to the 3:10 train to Yuma.
The original3:10 to Yuma,based on the story by Elmore Leonard,was added to the National Film Registry in 2012. While the remake wasn’t as critically acclaimed, it was a better film than even the original. The story underwent some slight changes, particularly in the ending, which improved it. It also had, top-to-bottom, fantastic acting.
3:10 To Yuma Released The Same Year As Two Western Masterpieces
There Will Be Blood & No Country For Old Men
One of the factors that prevented people from remembering3:10 To Yumawas that it was released in 2007,the same year asNo Country for Old MenandThere Will Be Blood.After so many years of no major theatrical Westerns, there were three in the same year, and two of them have stood the test of time as some of the best films of the century, regardless of genre.
Those two movies finished in third place (There Will Be Blood) and sixth place (No Country For Old Men).3:10 to Yuma,despite its critical praise, didn’t receive the attention it deserved due to competition, but it’s worth a second chance for fans to catch up with today.
