3:10 To Yuma

While the producer-multiplex strike drags on and on, cinemas are desperately hunting around for something to show. And among other things, they came up with the 2007 Russel-Crowe-and-Christian-Bale-starrer 3:10 To Yuma. (For those who do not recognize the name Christian Bale, a hint – Batman !!)

It is a classic western – set in the wild west in the late 19th century when the railroads are just making their way across America. Like every good western movie, 3:10 To Yuma is ultimately about the man – who would go how far and where would one draw the line ? And yes, it does end in a shoot em’ up !

Ben Wade (Russel Crowe) is a famous outlaw who is captured in a small town called Bisbee and needs to be taken to Contention City and put on the 3:10 train to Yuma to face trial. For $200, rancher Dan Evans (Christian Bale) agrees to be one of the escorts for Ben Wade. However, Ben’s gang is hot on their heels and are desperate to free their leader. So the final shoot em’ up is easy to predict …

The relatively straightforward plot lends to a faceoff between the two stars of this movie. While characters like the old bounty hunter Bryon McElroy and Ben’s sidekick Charlie Prince are interesting, the movie mainly revolves around Ben Wade and Dan Evans. Ben Wade is easily the more engaging of the two, showing a light demeanour and jovial mood, but capable of surprisingly vicious violence. Dan Evans is the more silent type, but it is him who reveals more layers at the end.

However, this is where the good things about 3:10 To Yuma end. It suffers from one plot hole too many in the second half and makes for a WTF ending. With all the movie building up to the final shoot em’ up, the last exchange between Dan Evans and Ben Wade left me scratching my head and made the climax an extremely unsatisfying experience.

Not much to recommend in the movie except for the acting by the stalwarts. Watch it only if you HAVE to watch something on the big screen