The pivotal moment isn’t High Noon, but apparently the time is right for a not-quite revisionist Western, in this case a remake of “3:10 to Yuma.” As the clock ticks toward a mid-afternoon climax, it’s ostensibly about escorting a bad guy onto a prison train with punctuality. But what it’s really about is how the performances of the no-nonsense Australian Russell Crowe and the controlled Welshman Christian Bale stay respectful and yet also refresh a quintessentially American movie genre.
Director James Mangold (“Walk the Line”) and a trio of credited screenwriters re-adapt an early short story by best-selling author Elmore Leonard for this redo of 1957’s Glenn Ford/Van Heflin picture of the same name. Mangold has assembled an appropriately motley ensemble for this somewhat prolonged but nevertheless absorbing adventure.
He and his filmmaking team remember the great Old West standards — sagebrush, dusty trails, gunfights, hard-bitten men of few words and much swagger, a strict non-cynical code of morality for its own sake, and a simplistic plotline. However, they also kick the horse opera up a modern notch by adding in coarser dialogue;more/longer action scenes that placate the audience but don’t necessarily move the story forward; and behavioral psychology. For example, the script insinuates that Crowe’s womanizing outlaw Ben Wade has a mommy fixation and abandonment issues.
Though Crowe may be the bigger star, this “3:10 to Yuma” focuses on the heroic, down-and-out character of Dan Evans, played by Bale, who seems to be growing more compelling and authentic with each new role he takes.
Dan is a wounded Civil War vet and destitute Arizona rancher who is about to lose not only his land but — worse — his family’s respect. To earn a much-needed $200 and redeem himself, he signs up to join the posse shepherding notorious stagecoach thief Wade to the station in the town of Contention and onto the 3:10 train to the Yuma penitentiary. But in the process, the hired guns must find a way to avoid being killed off by Wade’s loyal gang of desperados, led by the deadly blonde dandy Charlie Prince (Ben Foster), who is bent on rescuing his leader.
Though Ben and Wade are at cross-purposes, a mutual respect forms between them. The complex interaction of these two characters is fascinating to watch since they are played by actors on the high level of — and with such different emoting styles as — brash Mr. Crowe and centered Mr. Bale.
Superb performances by Peter Fonda as a frustrated bounty hunter and Logan Lerman as Dan’s fervent teenage son support this memorable pairing.
They make it worth it to saddle up for “3:10 to Yuma.”
‘3:10 to Yuma’
****
Starring: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Peter Fonda
Director: James Mangold
Rated R for violence and some language
Running time: 117 minutes
