The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger
(2013) [Trailer]
Director: Gore Verbinski [IMDB]

I'm not going lie and say I was looking forward to seeing this back in the summer and never got around to it. Fact is, I kind of wanted to see it, but thought it definitely didn't merit the price of admission at the time of its release. I never watched The Lone Ranger as a kid, so this review will be a little unbiased, because who wants to hear some dude bitch about how Disney is ruining the memories of the original.

Synopsis: After his brother is killed, a straight laced lawyer finds his alter ego, The Lone Ranger. He teams up with Tonto, a loner Indian, to set out and find the man responsible for killing his kin.

The Lone Ranger wasn't a bad film, but far from great. I was surprised at how much I actually liked about it, but there were absolutely some elements of the film that didn't work.

I really could have done without the framing device with the old Tonto and kid, I found all of those scenes to be pointless and annoying. The film was extremely long, they could have easily cut out an hour of this thing and still achieved the same result. The action spikes high in the beginning and at the end, but in between there's not a lot of excitement going on.

Tonto, The Lone Ranger and the horse Silver save this film for me. I enjoyed Depp's performance and his banter with The Lone Ranger was interesting and funny at times. Most of the scenes involving Silver got the most laughs from me and the way they utilize him was pretty clever. I also thought Armie made a good Lone Ranger and was a perfect casting choice.

Technically the film is solid... the sets, locations, cinematography, score and costumes were all awesome and Gore Verbinski captured the essence of a great western. I could see myself revisiting this at some point, for me it has some charm that saved it from being completely lame.

Django Unchained

Django Unchained
(2012) [Trailer]
Director: Quentin Tarantino [IMDB]

Django and The Hobbit were my two most anticipated films of the year and I knew when I heard the release date for this where I'd be Christmas day... at my house opening up presents. Well, that and at the theater to lay my eyes on Mr Tarantino's new baby.

Synopsis: A German bounty hunter (Christoph Waltz) frees a slave  named Django (Jamie Foxx) who he enlists to help track down felons. The two then team up to help Django free his enslaved wife.

I had a real good time watching Django Unchained tonight, it's an extremely fun movie. Waltz and Foxx work so well together on screen and their dialogue is something you would come to expect from a Tarantino film, but the two of them really sold it well. Django is a hilarious film, but then the next minute it's serious and then the next minute after that it's brutally violent. It's a hard line to walk but one Quentin does very effectively. I loved the score and cinematography, as I normally do with most his films. Leonardo DiCaprio played his role perfectly... it was actually one of my favorite performances from him. It was also nice to see some cameos in Django, especially Walter Goggins from The Shield and Crockett from Miami Vice. I can't really think of anything bad to say about the film, it won me over and I would highly recommend it.... unless you're offended by bad language and the killing of slave owners.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
(1969) [Trailer]
Director: George Roy Hill (IMDB)

Many movies are considered "classics". What makes a movie a classic and how long does it take to be bestowed that honor? I recently picked up a few blu-rays that are considered classics that I have not seen. I figured, they were cheap and everyone loves them, so why not. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was the first of that group of blus and now I will tell you if it's a classic or not.

Synopsis: Paul Newman and Robert Redford portray the infamous bank robbing duet, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid... they rob and shoot at people. It's a lot fun.

For westerns, this is as good as it gets. Newman and Redford are awesome together and their chemistry seems 100% legit on screen. I really enjoyed the opening scene, it's filmed with this cool sepia look and also uses lots of interesting close ups. After that, the film heads into a rough account of the real life robbers and it paces itself through that story line effortlessly. Other highlights for me were the chase scenes and the bike ride. The long and short is... this movie is cool and feel timeless to me. So there you go, it's a classic.

Tombstone

Tombstone
(1993) [Trailer]
Director: George P. Cosmatos (IMDB)

Tombstone is a classic example of despite everything being wrong in the production, by some miracle, the movie Gods, happy accidents or whatever, everything turns out alright. REALLY alright. It was plagued from the git go with delays, script problems, and budgetary problems. But under the strong pimp hand of Snake Pliskin AKA Kurt Russell, the movie got back on track. Kurt's leadership and selflessness, even cutting his own scenes to give his fellow actors more screen time, turned what could have been an epic disaster into an epic popcorn movie.

And the great performaces didn’t hurt. Kurt Russell as Wyatt, and Sam Elliot and Bill Paxton as Virgil and Morgan are our hero Earp brothers.

Set in Tombstone, Arizona, the story is about famous sheriff and lawman, Wyatt Earp and his brothers. Wyatt, who is searching for a life of peace, ultimately has no choice, but to rid the town of the scoundrels named The Cowboys who pretty much do whatever they want. Like killing people. And being drunk annoying buffoons. Great performances by Powers Booth, who leads the Cowboys, and Michael Biehn as Johnny Ringo are vital to the effectiveness of the film.

And then there's Val. Val Kilmer. Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday stole every scene he was in and delivers some of the most classic lines in movie history. Rarely has anyone, in a supporting role, made such an impact on the enjoyment of a film. Doc Holliday is as loyal to Wyatt as any character could be to another. He would do anything for him. Including kill or die. If you needed someone to go into battle with, Doc Holliday is your huckleberry.

The movie builds and builds. After attempts at living a peaceful life are unsuccessful, the Earp brothers have no choice but to confront the Cowboys at the legendary gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Great direction, cinematography, and editing build the drama and tension and make this a tremendously entertaining scene in an already entertaining movie. 

This scene leads into the Cowboys taking revenge which leads into Wyatt going postal. Hell is coming with him.

The movie's third act is a tremendously joyful and entertaining ride. Tombstone is about brotherhood, whether by blood or love, and doing the right thing no matter what you may risk in the process.

If you haven't seen this yet, see it. Unless you don't like entertaining films.

Thank you.

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
(1948) [Trailer]
Director: John Huston (IMDB)

I had this movie on for no longer then 5 minutes before my wife said it was boring and tuned out. Take that for what you will, I found it to be the complete opposite of boring. Maybe she thought that because it was in black and white and from the 40's, or maybe it really is boring and I'm a boring dude. I do know it ranks up there in a lot of people's best ever category, including Kubrick and PT Anderson (who watched it every night for inspiration while filming There Will Be Blood.) I'll do my best to defend it now.

Three men head out into the Sierra Madre in search of gold. They find gold, but also a lot more then they bargained for.

This movie, like There Will Be Blood, showcases man's greed and how it can become the downfall of him. The story for this film is really solid and executed perfectly by Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston and Tim Holt. It's success lays in those two elements, but also in it's setting, the Mexican back drop is really pleasing and is cool to see on film from the 40's and in B&W. I'll avoid spoilers but, this movie also surprised me at the end. I'd like to revisit this film again sometime down the road, I wonder if it's on blu-ray? [types in www.amazon.com]

Once Upon a Time in the West

Once Upon a Time in the West
(1968) [Trailer]
Director: Sergio Leone (IMDB)

The first time I drove through the deserts of the southwest I remember thinking it was one of the most beautiful places on earth. So vast, rugged and untouched by man. Until that point in my life I had only seen images like that in the movies, movies like Once Upon a Time in the West. I was finally a cowboy reconnecting with the land, or some shit like that.

The story for this is a bit complex and hard to explain, so here's a quick account. A widow is visited by the man accused of killing her husband. Meanwhile a mysterious man named Harmonica shows up to help the accused man take down the real killer.

Like all Sergio Leone films I've seen, I loved this. There's so much good in this it's really hard to encapsulate it all into one short review. I thoroughly enjoyed the opening scene, it's orchestrated with regular sounds instead of music in a way that adds a sense of tension or unease and it really stood out in a weird, but good, way. There's also a fantastic scene in the middle of the film with this long tracking shot that follows Frank (Henry Fonda) in the background as his hops from train car to train car a while you see dead bodies disbursed about in the foreground... really good stuff. Speaking of Frank, Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, and Charles Bronson are all great in their roles as well, and I am in love with Claudia Cardinale... sorry wife (at least she's probably all old and wrinkley now, unlike your boy Ryan Gosling...he's so hot right now.)

There's a lot more that I can talk about, but I'll leave you to form your own opinion if you haven't seen the movie yet. If you have, we'll have a discussion about it later. Okay? Good.

 

A Fistful of Dollars

A Fistful of Dollars
(1964) [Trailer]
Director: Sergio Leone (IMDB)

This movie is basically a remake of Yojimbo, one of my favorite Akira Kurosawa movies. It's obviously different, in that it's set in the old west, but similar enough for Kurosawa to sue Sergio Leone's ass and win. This resulted in Kurosawa getting a percentage of the film's worldwide gross and distribution rights in Asia. Later Kurosawa said he made more off Fistful than he ever did with Yojimbo. Does that mean it's a better movie? According to capitalism, yes it does.

Two gangs in a small border town in Mexico are at each others throats. Clint Eastwood comes to town and sees an opportunity to play each side against one another and make a fistful of dollars along the way... see what did there? Things heat up, people die, Clint is a badass, end of story.

I LOVE THIS MOVIE. Hopefully if anything stands out in this review, it's that, that's why I made it in all caps. Everything in this is perfect. Morricone's score, as always, is incredible. It's just the best, and the following morning I'm humming it on the way to work. Just like every Sergio Leone movie I've seen so far, it has a unique style that stands on it own. I remember watching this as a kid and thinking Clint Eastwood was the coolest dude on the planet... he is. I've said my piece, go get on it.

Western Double Bill - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Unforgiven.

Just knocked out a seriously solid double bill featuring two of my (now) favorite Westerns: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Unforgiven. Both star your boy Clint, but both are extremely different.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
(1966) [Trailer]
Director: Sergio Leone (IMDB)

Now this is a long ass film. 3 hours long roughly. If that's not your cup of tea, I would definitely avoid it. I, however, love a good long..... flick. Especially when it delivers quality, which this here movie does, in many ways.

It centers around three main characters: The Good...Clint Eastwood aka Goldie, The Bad...Angel Eyes, and The Ugly...Tuco. There's a fortune to be found. Goldie crosses Tuco, who crosses Goldie, who crosses Angel Eyes, who crosses both of them....something along those lines...I won't ruin it for you. All you need to know is the overall story is great.

There's lots that I love about this film, first and foremost is the score. Ennio Morricone serves up one of the most classic film scores ever made by modern man, it is truly epic (I know that word is thrown around a lot, but this shit's truly epic, no joke.) Also the direction is flawless, Sergio Leone is a true master of westerns. His style dances around lots of great wide shots, cool zooms, and classic action that keeps you into the movie through the whole ride. Definitely check this film out if you haven't done so already. If you have, do it again.



Unforgiven
(1992) [Trailer]
Director: Clint Eastwood (IMDB)

I had never seen Unforgiven until the other day. It's one of those movie I knew would be good but, for whatever reason, just never got to it. I found the blu-ray used for 4 dollars at my secret spot (you wanna know where it is....yeah.....no) so I went ahead and picked it up...cause 4 bones is a deal son! Now, I'm kicking myself for sleeping on this film cause it is phenomenal.

Your boy Clint is back, much much later in life however, as a retired gunslinger who finds himself running low on funds and propositioned by a younger gunslinger to join up on a business venture that will lead to some serious scratch...if you know what I mean. He joins up and also calls on the help of Red from Shawshank to go hunt down some guys who fucked up this prostitute with a knife. The story snowballs from there, eventually Gene Hackman gets up in the mix and throws some curve balls to derail things a bit.

Your boy Clint can direct a damn movie. This film is beautifully shot and the pacing is perfect. There are a lot of things about this movie that I really enjoyed, especially some of it's undertones. I think Clint was really trying to show a film about a man who breaks down during hard times. No matter how much time passes and who he thought he became, in the end when shit got tough, he turned back into the man he really was...and alcoholic murderer...NICE!