‘Yuma’ revives western genre

Robby O’Daniel

Entertainment Editor

“3:10 to Yuma” uses all the same western clichés and plot devices, creating the prototypical good guys and bad guys with a few gunfights and saloon drinks along the way. At the same time, the remake manages to breathe new life into the genre by attempting to capture the essence of its classics.

The movie pits down-on-his-luck rancher Dan Evans (Christian Bale) against the most sought-after outlaw around, Ben Wade (Russell Crowe). With the promise of money and justice, Evans agrees to accompany Wade until Wade gets on the 3:10 train to Yuma prison.

One major hurdle for the western is believability, and the lead actors make the “suspension of disbelief” all the easier.

Crowe’s voice employs a Western twang, anchoring his soft-spoken yet aggressive character. Ben Wade changes constantly. One moment he wisecracks innocently with his captors, and the next it becomes obvious why he is so reviled and feared among the town. These dramatic mood shifts are always startling and help to keep the audience on their toes.

With this gig, Bale adds another genre to his acting repertoire, further making the argument for him as the most versatile actor in Hollywood today. It is important to note that he never seems out of his element in the old West of “Yuma.” While Dan Evans is just another honest, hard working family man, it is Bale’s intensity and fire that make him come alive.

Yes, that is Logan Lerman playing Dan Evans’ rebellious elder son, William. Lerman is sort of recognizable from a number of underwhelming projects like “The Butterfly Effect,” “Jack and Bobby” and “The Number 23.” His presence is initially annoying and pointless, but the character manages to win his relevancy to the picture. Without him, Dan Evans’ struggle to do what is right would be slightly diminished.

At its surface, the film is also a very interesting experiment. In a way, modern actors are anachronisms in a genre that sometimes flashes camp. Today’s need for realism in entertainment does not allow for these basic plot elements. While these actors remain faithful to the material, they add another dimension with the style of today.

In the end, the story of “3:10 to Yuma” really has nothing to do with Wade, the people he has killed or the money he has stolen. The film centers on Evans trying to be something worth emulating to his sons — a hero. In this way, the tale is endearing and personable while being an unforgiving shoot-em-up at the same time.

Grade: B