Entertaining remake which doesn’t quite get there but is worth watching. Russell Crowe is terrific in a marvellous role as the outlaw, a charming killer who is ruthless but has a soft side, and most of the tension in the film comes from guessing which way he’s going to turn. There’s also a shooting gallery plot with the gang escorting Crowe to justice being knocked off one by one. Christian Bale is good but perhaps a bit too intense to play the Everyman role – but I guess they didn’t want an Everyman (although isn’t that the point of the character – he’s the one you relate to?)
The supporting cast is very strong – the character of Bale’s son is irritating but he gets better and the actor playing him is fine; Peter Fonda is surprisingly good as a grizzled prick of a cop (it’s not surprising Fonda gives a good performance, just that he rarely plays this type of role); but all the actors put in good performances – it helps they are given a bit of light and shade to work with, no one is all good or all evil, motivations are clear and understandable.
The sequence in the railroad area with Luke Wilson episode is a bridge too far, and the ending is confusing - I sort of get it, but its muddled. Ben Foster is excellent as the latest in a long line of subliminal gay cowboys.
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