3:10 To Yuma

The fact that 3:10 To Yuma made it to the top of the charts in the US and yet barely made a dent in the UK shows how popular films seen as Westerns are over here. It would seem the last Western any of us can recall is The Unforgiven, and that's fifteen years old now. Even if the genre is a diminishing one, 3:10 To Yuma has still managed to pack in the stars with dual lead roles from Russell Crowe and Christian Bale.

Bale plays a poor one-legged family man who is enticed into escorting gang leader Crowe to the prison train to Yuma (hence 3:10 being the time the train leaves, in case you're wondering). This film may be a remake of a similarly-titled flick from fifty years ago, but these two lead roles bring the film bang up to date. Bale in particular impresses us with his involving, dark and mumblesome persona where Crowe is once again playing an arrogant and swaggering blaggard, a role he fits perfectly into.

The only nigglesome point is the film's ending, whose sheer exuberance may well cause some audience members to bow their heads in disgust, but 3:10 To Yuma is a film that is worth a watch even if you shiver at the sight of a movie where Clint Eastwood takes top billing.

Released 14th September 2007 by LionsGate.

Written by Andrew Williams.