If you're into macho dudes swaggering around in chaps, dusty leather boots, and ubiquitous cowboy hats - "3:10 to Yuma" is the movie for you!
To date, the western has held a captive audience in its sway - mainly because of the charismatic on screen presences of Christian Bale and Russell Crowe - among others.
The tight intelligent script propels the storyline along without too many hitches.
Of course, there are a couple of lapses in judgment (moments of disbelief) but the audience is able to forgive some of the detours and implausible plot twists, so engaging are the characterizations on screen.
All the high-pitched action - and the screen is chock full of it from beginning to end - starts out simply enough.
A gang of outlaws swoop down on a Stage Coach and make off with the booty.
The Sheriff catches up with one of the lone criminals at a local watering hotel in town and faces the task of hauling him to the station where he'll have to embark on an arduous train ride to the State Prison in Yuma with prisoner in tow.
Hence, the title, "3:10 to Yuma".
With the gang leader's cohorts still at large, the law man is forced to hire out a handful of locals to ensure the outlaw is securely placed on the train without incident.
Christian Bale's character, a down-on-his-luck rancher, steps forward to sign up.
Although he's a real sharp shooter, it's the lure of cold hard cash that prompts him to take on the task.
The rancher reckons the payload will save his farm on the brink of foreclosure from the greedy clutches of a corrupt local lender.
Along the treacherous way - there are a number of clever twists and humorous turn-abouts - and enough rough-housing and fancy gun play to satisfy any fan of the western genre hungry for thrills.
Yes, "Yuma" is buoyed up by a well-crafted script and a cast of believable characters who are a delight to second-guess.
What we have here is a fistful of rugged individuals determined to succeed in their goal whatever the sacrifice may be.
There's the tough-as-nails bounty hunter out to haul the wanted man back to Yuma to face justice at any cost, the humble rancher out to earn an honest day's pay, and the crafty - but likable outlaw - biding time 'til his pals set him free.
There are no holds barred here.
And, to its credit, the action-packed western doesn't cop out at the end.
Russell Crowe is at the top of his game here, mainly because his performance is seamless, never stilted or phony.
His acting stint in "Yuma" is worth the price of admission alone.
Bale never disappoints either.
The actor's actor inhabits the role of a tough son-of-a-gun with ease.
In this well-directed, lush screen adventure, the characters not only think - but subtly reveal their conniving machinations convincingly on screen - by virtue of well-thought out story-telling devices.
In fact, on occasion, a character or two transforms right before the eyes.
When this occurs, it's a memorable moment captured on celluloid.
In sum, "Yuma" is a revealing look at the human condition.
But, because the tale flows from the whimsical pen of a screenwriter, not entirely true to life on occasion.
But, the theatre-goer can excuse its follies, because it is so darn rich in its layers elsewhere.
There is a lot of action, some dalliance with time-honored ideas about father-son relationships, and a struggle between the forces of good and evil.
A touch of morality is thrown in for good measure.
Not a great film, but the project is rendered well on screen, and will undoubtedly satisfy across the demographic.
One of the best westerns to come down the pike in a while.
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