Old-School Grit

3:10 to Yuma

Director- James Mangold
Cast- Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Peter Fonda
Released by- Lionsgate Films, 2007

In the aftermath of the Civil War, hardened veteran Dan Evans (Christian Bale) struggles to support the family on a their impoverished ranch.  Evans owes money to a guy named Glen Holland (Lennie Loftin) who would prefer to get his hands on the humble ranch than see Evan’s debt repaid.  Desperate for money (thanks in no small part to Holland’s posse of hard-case henchmen burning down his barn), Evans takes a job escorting notorious outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) to a train bound for Yuma Territorial Prison.

Image- Lionsgate Films

Though officially enemies, Evans and Wade develop a wary mutual respect, and wind up saving each others’ lives as they make their way into town. In one of the more entertaining scenes, en-route to their destination the group rests up for a meal. Wade the murderous outlaw, shackled and denied sharp objects, asks Evans to cut up his meat. Evans reluctantly obliges, but Wade, unsatisfied, insists he remove the fat as he’s not partial to gristle. It’s a nice comic moment that briefly diffuses the tension running through this othewise gritty and often tense flick.

Image- Lionsgate Films

The climactic shootout on the final walk through town to the 3:10 train to Yuma shows just what a fine line it can be between thug and civilised townsfolk, as Wade’s gnarly crew offer cash to any man prepared to take down his guards.

Solid performances by everyone on board, especially Crowe, make for classic true-grit. The Blu-ray version has just been released through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. One of the finest westerns to emerge from the past decade, 3:10 belongs in every bloke's DVD stable.