3:10 To Yuma review

In an era of hi-tech action thrillers and computer-generated effects, there's an affectionate charm about a good old-fashioned western. They conjure up romantic visions of Hollywood's heyday with their uncomplicated plots and legendary stars. That 3:10 To Yuma is a remake of the 1957 film starring Glenn Ford and Van Heflin only reinforces this image. Sadly, though, that notion is shattered by this updated version that lacks both the simplicity and brevity of the original. By tacking on an additional 25 minutes, it does nothing but slow things down and prolong the inevitable gunfight that concludes all self-respecting westerns.

Based on an Elmore Leonard short story, the original screenplay by Halstead Welles has been adapted by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas. There's plenty of tough talkin', with lines like "It's a man's nature to take what he wants," and "Even bad men love their mamas." But whereas such dialogue suited the style of the old westerns, it comes across as risible nowadays, even when uttered by the accomplished Crowe. Perhaps it's impossible to turn the clock back. Both films and the audience are more sophisticated now. With a greater degree of realism and authenticity expected, the implausible and unconvincing are not forgiven so readily. The gaping holes in 3:10 serve only to undermine its tenuous credulity.

In its favour are strong, very different, performances from its two stars. Christian Bale is firmly establishing himself as one of the best and most versatile actors around. He takes a far more understated approach than Crowe whose own forceful personality and arrogance often seep into his performances. In this case it's well suited to the portrayal of the engaging and ruthless outlaw Ben Wade whose leadership of a gang of murders and robbers has made him a legend.

When Wade is captured, a disgruntled railway company, fed-up with being continually robbed by Wade, pay anyone desperate enough a reward to escort Wade to a nearby town and put him on the 3:10 train to Yuma prison. With the certainty of attack by Wade's gang, led in his absence by the sadistic Charlie Prince (a laughably over-the-top Ben Foster), it's a deadly mission. Dan Evans (Christian Bale) is more than desperate. With a wife (Gretchen Mol) and two young boys to support, he owes a local racketeer money and is danger of losing his failing farm.

For Evans, the task becomes more than simply about the money. It's about proving himself, in particular to his spirited teenage son William (Logan Lerman). The psychological and moral battle waged between Wade and Evans gives 3:10 a potentially absorbing depth, but these elements are never successfully exploited, primarily because neither character ever comes across as real. This wasn't an issue back in 1957, but although the time of the train remains the same, the time in which the film arrives is very different.

Kevin Murphy