3:10 to Yuma

Starring: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Peter Fonda, Ben Foster, Alan Tudyk, Kevin durand
Directed by: James Mangold
Review: Alicia Ronan
Release date:28th Jan 2008

Dan Evans (Bale), is an un unsuccessful rancher. As Evans and his sons herd, they see an outlaw Ben Wade (Crowe) using their cattle in an ambush on a stagecoach. Teaming up with Byron McElroy (Fonda), a bounty hunter they follow Wade to a small town called Bisbee. Here they manage to arrest him, but his gang under Charlie Prince (Foster), are out to release him. There is a plan to use a decoy whilst they stick Wade on a train to Yuma, but there will be a long and bloody battle before they even get near the station.

A remake of the 1957 classic western, though there are some stark differences, particularly the ending, and of course a bigger body count. It is obvious that Crowe relishes the role of a cowboy and a bad boy at that. The Bale/Crowe exchanges are taut and the whole thing crackles with tension.