Film Review: 3:10 To Yuma

Liverpool Daily Post

3:10 To Yuma (Cert. 15, 122 mins)
Stars: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Logan Lerman, Dallas Roberts, Ben Foster, Peter Fonda, Alan Tudyk, Vinessa Shaw, Gretchen Mol, Kevin Durand, Luce Rains, Benjamin Petry
Director: James Mangold

FIFTY years after Glenn Ford and Van Heflin cocked their pistols in the original 3:10 to Yuma, director James Mangold saddles up for a fast- paced remake that reinvigorates the western genre.

A classic parable of good versus evil set in the mythic Old West, the new version relishes the stellar casting of Christian Bale and Russell Crowe as rancher Dan Evans and notorious outlaw Ben Wade, bound together on a perilous three-day journey to meet the titular train.

During that odyssey, Bale’s self-sacrificing father is forced to make terrible choices to safeguard his loved ones. He stares evil, in the shape of Crowe’s mean, conniving gunslinger, straight in the eye and hopes that his faith will carry him through.

Former Union Army officer Dan has abided by the letter of the law his entire life, and now lives on an Arizona ranch with his wife and sons, William and Mark, but, poverty- stricken through drought, Dan agrees the sum of $200 to escort vicious criminal Ben Wade to the prison train, which leaves at 3.10pm from the town of Contention.

The journey to the station is fraught with dangers including attacks by Apache Indians and Wade’s gun-crazy second-in- command Charlie Prince (Ben Foster). Adding to Dan’s woes, 14-year-old William (Logan Lerman) runs away from home.

Bale brings a palpable desperation to his family man while Crowe embraces his role as the cold-hearted killer with gusto.

Meanwhile, Foster delivers a scene- stealing psychopath from the repertoire and youngster Lerman acts many of his older co- stars off-screen with an intense portrayal of a boy desperate to become a man before he is ready.