"People are always asking me why they don't make Westerns like they used to."
- Roy Rogers
Heck, I even find myself asking this very question about the past decade or so. For a while, the last great Western was Unforgiven (1992). Tombstone (1993) and Wyatt Earp (1994) are very good films that tried to correct this, but they just do not have the staying power that Eastwood's masterpiece has.
Thankfully, though, the second half of this past decade saw a resurgence of Westerns that are probably some of the best since the early 90s. The year 2007 was especially kind in this regard. That year saw the release of three Westerns that have to be considered amongst this resurgence, mostly due to the fact that they offer a breath of fresh air, some spark of originality.
The three from 2007 that I am referring to are The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Seraphim Falls, and 3:10 to Yuma. These three films have unique visual styles. They have stories that are not only fresh in terms of cinema as a whole but even in their Western genre. (Yes, I took into account that 3:10 to Yuma is a remake.)
These three films also have tremendous casts. The level of acting in Westerns has changed considerably since Leone's "Spaghetti Westerns," and these three films are great illustrations of how it has changed for the better. Plus, Russell Crowe and Liam Neeson are two of my favorite actors, so their presence in any film is bound to elevate the level of the cast in my eyes.
There are many types of Westerns, and two of the most popular types are the Outlaw and the Revisionist Westerns. Jesse James and 3:10 are your Outlaw Westerns. Seraphim Falls has the distinction of being what some call a Revisionist Western, in that the romanticism of the the Traditional Western is bucked for a darker tone that favors elements of realism. (Actually, Jesse James is probably a mix of Outlaw and Revisionist.)
Another Western of the Outlaw/Revisionist mix is Australia's The Proposition (2005). I hate to sound repetitive, but this film stands out for the same reasons as the previous three: a strong cast, a fresh story, and a unique visual style. The Proposition is probably edgier, grittier, and more intense that the above three, which is saying something considering just how violent and rough the previous three are.
Although the Space Western is normally considered more science fiction than western, 2005's Space Western entry Serenity (a continuation of the Fox series Firefly) has always felt more like a Western. Of course, enjoyment of this movie is 5x better if you are familiar with the TV series and 10x better if you have seen Firefly in its entirety (not too difficult considering Fox made one of the worst decisions in television history by canceling it and leaving us with only 14 episodes). Malcolm Reynolds is one of the most enduring characters of all-time, due in large part to terrific writing and the incredible acting of Nathan Fillion. Without a doubt, Serenity joins the other four films as part of the resurgence of good Westerns.
The final film I will mention is also the only Traditional Western of the bunch: Appaloosa (2008). Because it is based on Robert B. Parker's novel of the same name, it is a foregone conclusion that whatever weaknesses the film has are not a result of the writing. It turns out, though, that this film's only weakness is just one cast member (Renee Zellweger). Outside of that, the film tells a story that never loosens its grip on the audience. The dialogue is fantastic, but the more impressive is just how no-frills the story is. The characters are actually at the heart of this story.
Another example of its realistic, no-frills story is that one very important shootout in the movie is over before you even have time to process what has happened. Instead of some elaborate, drawn-out sequence, the story paints a picture of how things like that most likely went down. I was amazed at the power of its brevity, considering the amount of tension that was a part of the set-up. I had never seen anything like that before in any movie, especially a Western.
In my opinion, Appaloosa is one of the new great westerns (despite its previously mentioned flaw). The other five are very good films that have also been a part of the recent resurgence of good, fresh Westerns. Now, why there was a fifteen-year hiatus of good westerns is a mystery to me and a matter of debate between myself and other moviegoers. But at least it isn't a problem we are dealing with currently.
P.S.
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On which side of the great debate do you find yourself?
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