Radio Lady Reviews: "3:10 to Yuma" (OPENS 9/7/07)

3:10 to Yuma

'Board…'board… ALL ABOARD the “3:10 to Yuma”… Don’t miss this film! The remake of “3:10 to Yuma” is outstanding but couldn’t have been done nearly as well without a couple of furriners! I’m talking about Christian Bale, born in Wales and raised in the UK, and Russell Crowe, who was born in New Zealand and raised in Australia. These two, it seems, can master any accent, locale, and place in time and cause you to lose yourself completely to the characters they create.

Actor Christian Bale plays an injured Civil War veteran, Dan Evans, struggling against all odds to survive and take care of his family. The townsfolk want him GONE so that his land can be used for the new railroad that’s coming. His own family looks with disdain upon him while he carries a secret that prevents him from considering himself a war hero even the though the conflict cost him a leg. When gang leader Ben Wade, played by Russell Crowe, is captured and needs to be transported to the “3:10 to Yuma,” the railroad train which will take the outlaw to court, Dan seizes the opportunity to redeem himself and to save his family.

The challenge of delivering smug Ben Wade to the station and putting him on that train is enormous as Wade’s gang pursues them determined to free their leader. The numerous players in the supporting cast are also terrific. Those in the gang are ominous and frightening. See how long it takes you to recognize Peter Fonda in his role. (One reviewer and I were wondering if he looks like his father, Henry Fonda -- or not.) You won’t have any trouble identifying Luke Wilson even though he appears just briefly.

Neither my husband nor I can recall whether we ever saw the original “3:10 to Yuma,” but this one is a great Western. Credit James Mangold for directing, as well as Halsted Welles, Michael Brandt and Derek Haas for the script.

Western movies have been mostly absent in recent time. Maybe “3:10 to Yuma” will encourage more of this genre. I hope so. It’s been too long since Clint Eastwood’s “Unforgiven” but with this “3:10 to Yuma”… all is forgiven.

I'm giving it an "A" on Ellen's Entertainment Report Card. This is Ellen Kimball for OPB's Accessible Information Network.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000288/

Christian Bale was born in Wales and raised in the UK (with some time in Portogul)

Thanks, Lynne... good catch!

Oh, goodness! Christian's father, David Bale, married Gloria Steinem in 2000. His stepmother is a feminist!

We've seen both of these in the past couple of months... it's been a BALE of a year!

If so, any comments you are to make are appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Radio Lady

he's very talented and nice to look at as well.

all of the language accents he can do so effortlessly!

He has a rather noticeable lump between his nose and his right eye. Perhaps some skilled doctor can repair it someday.

But then I never complained about Christopher Plummer's or Harrison Ford's facial imperfections. Or Jude Law, for that matter.

I may have to go see this one again while it's still on the big screen...:D
(Look for Bale up next in "I'm Not There" as one of the multiple Bob Dylans).