"A small-time rancher agrees to hold a captured outlaw who's awaiting a train to go to court in Yuma. A battle of wills ensues as the outlaw tries to psych out the rancher."
I love this movie, it is a fantastic pair off with Russell Crowe and Christian Bale. While it is set up as a Good Guy Vs Bad Guy type of movie, it is really more of a journey of discovery.
I probably had you the moment I said Russell Crowe & Christian Bale, the cast doesn't stop there. Ben Foster, Alan Tudyk (A leaf in the wind), Kevin Durand, and Dallas Roberts also play key roles in the movie.
While I am not particularly a fan of Westerns, a great movie is just a great movie. I'd put Russell Crowe's performance in 3:10 to Yuma right up there with Gladiator. While his screentime isn't the same, he dominates the screen as Ben Wade.
Dan Evans (played by Christian Bale)is a good down to earth family man and rancher. Mr. Evans witnesses a stagecoach robbery by Ben Wade and his gang while heading into town. In a series of events, he ends up part of a posse to take Ben Wade to the city of Contention to get Ben Wade on the train to see justice carried out.
Dan Evans is a rancher and an ex-soldier with a leg injury from the war. He is also the father of a troubled gun-slinging boy and takes on the task of escorting Ben Wade to show his boy that crime doesn't pay. He is also having some problems with the deed to his land which he was promised would be handled if he helps escort Ben Wade to Contention.
What I love about this movie is Ben Wade's banter. I love me some good banter and Ben Wade delivers it in spades.
Will Dan Evans survive the treacherous journey filled with Indian ambushes, Ben Wade's rivals, and Ben Wade's gang seeking to free their leader? They say it is all about the journey and while they are right, the destination in this movie is great as well!
3:10 to Yuma comes in at 7.7/10 on IMDb which is quite rare, I find anything over 6.0 tends to be a good movie and 7+ are among the best.
Trailer
All images from 3:10 to Yuma IMDb page