3:10 To Yuma

Uneven yet entertaining, 3:10 To Yuma follows several old-west gunslingers as they attempt to transport a notorious criminal to a nearby train station – with the ongoing presence of said criminal’s gang undoubtedly complicating matters. It becomes clear almost immediately that 3:10 To Yuma, as compelling as it sporadically is, would’ve benefited from a much short running time, as director James Mangold proves unable to hold the viewer’s interest for the entirety of the film’s 122 minutes. This is despite the inclusion of several admittedly thrilling sequences, as Mangold – working from Halsted Welles, Michael Brandt, and Derek Haas’ screenplay – peppers the proceedings with all the expected accoutrements of the western genre (ie shoot-outs, stagecoach chases, etc). The overly talky vibe is initially offset by the strength of the various performances, with stellar turns from Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, and particularly Ben Foster effectively infusing the proceedings with more depth than one might’ve anticipated. It’s worth noting, however, that the degree to which Crowe’s villainous character has been portrayed as a thug with a heart of gold does become fairly ludicrous, as his Ben Wade ultimately seems to be just a little too helpful in sealing his own doom. Still, 3:10 To Yuma is a solid little effort that hardly reinvents the western yet proves engaging enough to satisfy fans of the genre.

*** out of ****