Take a little spaghetti western along with bits and pieces of “High Noon” and “The Outlaw Josey Wales” (actually a huge amount of “Josey Wales”), toss in some of the big stars of the day and a story by Elmore Leonard and you get “3:10 To Yuma,” the latest installment in the never-ending quest to redefine the classic western.
A good entertainment, but it’s not all the way there. Bits and pieces of Leonard dialog come shining through (were the words “fuck” and “asshole” in general circulation back in the 1870s?) and the story has some nice resonances involving the symmetries between the boy and Crowe, but it operates through too much of a scrim of irony and classic movie references.
By the way, Russel Crowe eats Christian Bale’s lunch. I tend to like Bale’s work, but Crowe makes him look like a cardboard cutout by comparison.
I’ll pitch in three-and-a-half stars as an opening bid.
I haven’t seen this movie because I was told the first one wasn’t that good and this one isn’t much better. So skipped it. And i have to agree about Christian Bale. The media and those supposedly in the know think he’s the next “it” actor, but i’ve tried to find “it” and “it” just ain’t happening.
Now here’s one to file under “So bad it’s good”: Swamp Devil. It stars some cute youngerish chick and Bruce Dern as her father, in what must’ve been his last role before he died. I can’t put my finger on what it was that i liked about it or why it was so compelling, because believe you me the Swamp Devil was so hokey/unrealistic it was almost funny. But then i’m a sucker for stupid funny.
Speaking of funny, have you watched “Mississippi Burning” lately? If not, I gotta tell you Gene Hackman was just hella hilarious in that movie. Yeah, i know, it’s ironic. I’ve watched it maybe 10 times in the last couple weeks it’s been on ONDEMAND. Hackman totally stole the show on that one and to you, Dustin “Rainman” Hoffman, you robbed Gene Hackman of his rightful kudos (for what Oscars are worth) in 1988.
Now to redeem myself for that “Swamp Devil” recommendation, i’ve got two to recommend that i think you people can appreciate. One is called “Beautiful Ohio” and naturally i clicked “Order” on this one for the obvious reason. Starring William Hurt you know you can’t go wrong. And this one is still in the film festival circuit. As is “The Interview” starring Steve Buscemi. Need i say more? No, but i will anyway. He wrote it. He acts in it, and i’m not sure but i’d guess he probably directed it too. If you guys don’t like either of those, I dunno what to say.
Just got the major thumbs down from a friend on “Death Sentence” with Kevin Bacon. Now normally when i smell “Bacon” I bite right in. But somethings kept me away from this one. Guess i wasn’t in the mood for the subject matter. But when my bff said this ones a stink bomb, i’ll have to wait til it’s under “Free Movies” before clicking.
That and a nickel won’t even get you a glass of water….
I’m pretty sure I saw “Swamp Devil” a long time ago. I have a general rule of thumb that if a movie has Bruce Dern in it it’s worthy of my time. If he was making a stinker he knew it and played it accordingly. Gene Hackman and Steve Buscemi are two more that have that quality. Buscemi (and Billy Bob Thornton) were the only two things that made a travesty like “Armageddon” barely watchable.
The previews for “Death Sentence” looked good, but I blew it off once the reviews came in uniformly “meh.”
My daughter, by the way, is vaguely acquianted with Buscemi’s son. They live in Park Slope, Brooklyn and frequent some of the same teen hangouts.
imdb dates Swamp Devil at 2008. It must’ve been released after Bruce Dern died. Hasn’t he been dead for at least 2 years already?? I get what you mean about Bruce Derns acting being commensurate with the movie he’s in. He really was a talented “flexible” actor. And i absolutely love Steve Buscemi. Guys hilarious. Have loved him ever since i discovered him oh so many years ago. Yeah, that’s right. I discovered him. But none of these guys can touch Gene Hackman. Hackman is absolutely, positively the greatest actor of all time!
I think it’s very cool that “your daughter” knows Buscemi’s son. Ask her if she can get me Steve’s autograph. If so, I’ll see what i can do to get LeBrons for her.
What’s it like in Park Slope, Brooklyn.? It never occurred to me that Brooklyn had neighborhoods good enough for the likes of the Buscemi’s.
Oh, speaking of autographs, check this out. True story. One time Brian, my brother, was stopped at a red light and who was in the SUV next to him but Kobe Bryant. Brian waves and says something like “Hey! Kobe! Wassup?”. Kobe motioned for Brian to pull over into the nearest parking lot. Gets out of his car. Says hello, how ya doin’ and gives Brian his autograph. Is that wild or what?
Park Slope is one of the two most desirable neighborhoods in Brooklyn, along with Brooklyn Heights. It adjoins Prospect Park, with is Brooklyn’s equivalent of Central Park. Designed by Olmstead & Vaugh — as Central Park was — many consider it to be overall superior to its Manhattan sibling.
Its core is a neighborhood of tree-lined streets of beautiful wide brownstone row houses. A “house,” which by convention is a floor of one of them, on one of the more desirable blocks will command three thousand dollars a month rent I’m guessing. Buying one will set you back at least a million. Architecturally it’s similar to Pacific Heights.
The main avenues are lined with fine restaurants and cool shops. Its very popular with families, at least families that can afford those kind of prices. It still retains some of its hipster coolness, its not at all corporate of “chain store-ish.”
I’d live there in a heartbeat if I could afford it!
I can’t believe Kobe pulls over and signs autographs for people that yell “Hey Kobe” on the street. He’d never get anywhere, stopping every block or two!
I asked Claire about the autograph, she laughed. She only met him once or twice, but you never know.
Park Slope sounds real nice. I would like to see it next time I visit.
I don’t think Kobe pulls over for just anyone who yells “Hey Kobe” and btw, that was just me postulating how Brian got his attention. But Brian has a very magnetic personality. He’s very friendly and genuine. I guess Kobe didn’t feel threatened. Anyway, i’m sure Kobe packs and he is almost a foot taller and probably at least 50 lbs heavier than Brian.
I hope the Buscemi kid is better looking than his pops.
Hey, i just checked imdb and some other sources and there’s no record of Bruce Dern being dead. I coulda sworn he died about a year or more ago. Anybody else remember that? I might be mistaken. Apparently, he’s stars in Astronaut Farmer. Maybe i got him mixed up with somebody else? I hope so. But i was so sure…..
So sorry Bruce.
There are numerous websites declaring that Bruce Dern is indeed alive. And people commenting that they coulda sworn they heard months ago that he had died. Just like i did. I am NOT crazy! Why did so many people think this guy was dead? (rhetorical)
If you listen to the closing theme of “Swamp Devil” backwards, there are clues.
You mock me!
It either says “I buried Bruce” or “Cranberry sauce.”
Ok, cousin, I should think you’ve milked this Bruce Dern joke for all it’s worth, but by all means if you’ve got more, lay it on me. Really, i am interested to see just how creative you can get with this thing.