Categories: Movie and Series Reviews, Western

Old Henry (2021) 5/5

Verse | Posted December 2, 2024 | 5/5, Action, Drama, Movie and Series Reviews, Western

Old Henry feels like a throwback to rarely seen westerns. It lacks a lot of flash and for some that could feel as tired as Henry himself feels, but I think this western works so well because it keeps things simple.

Tim Blake Nelson gives an amazing performance, capturing a look and feel that sells the character. The supporting cast is no slouch either.

If anyone has patience for an economical story like this, then they will not regret it. The director and writer, Potsy Ponciroli, is someone to look out for. This is a movie that could bridge the gap between grandmas wanting to watch their westerns and the modern movie goer.

True Grit (2010) 4/5

Verse | Posted December 1, 2024 | 4/5, Drama, Movie and Series Reviews, Western

Fun cast and great flick. Brolin and Damon really give their roles a lot, but nobody is slouching.

Sweetwater (2013) 2.5/5

Verse | Posted December 1, 2024 | 2.5/5, Movie and Series Reviews, Thriller, Western

It felt like it wanted to do a lot of things but without much planning. This left a lot of beats feeling shoehorned in purely “because.” The few things it does well are fun to watch but its a movie where the cast largely drag it to its better moments. If Jason Isaacs, January Jones, and Ed Harris weren’t here, I think it would be immediately forgettable.

3:10 to Yuma (2007) 3.5/5

Verse | Posted November 30, 2024 | 3.5/5, Action, Crime, Drama, Movie and Series Reviews, Western

A good movie but a little too cleanly puzzled together. The scripts cleanliness takes front stage to character motivations. This makes for some admittedly fun one liners and impressive scenes, but it feels very Hollywood by the end. Even the wrapping up feels like everyone says the right thing in unnatural ways to get it to the overall cool idea. This leaves Dallas Roberts, as the money man, to just be super agreeable at every step.

This also may be the cleanest R rated film. I am not advocating for going Bone Tomahawk, but it detracts how every death is so visually polite. Especially when quite a lot of characters are motivated by dealing and avoiding death out.

If that seems tough on the film, it is only because I really like certain parts. Ben Foster is fantastic and chews what he can with his dialogue. Peter Fonda really nailed his holyer-than-thou role. Bale is awesome and lets scenes breath around him. It is always fun to see Alan Tudyk, even if his character felt very cut down in editing here or in need of some actual doctoring scenes along the journey.

Appaloosa (2008) 4.5/5

Verse | Posted November 30, 2024 | 4.5/5, Crime, Drama, Movie and Series Reviews, Romance, Western

I saw Appaloosa years ago, and now again, and I still enjoyed it a lot. It is a very slow film with a lot of character, dialogue, and patience. Life slowly rolls by and even the action has a patient, audience-aware, build up. I admire its ability to eschew being over dramatized and keep interest.