The Thing I Love about Westerns


I love how much the men love each other. The same is true for football movies and cop movies. There's all that running around, killing people, getting laid or making touch downs, but underneath there's a current of pure man love.

Last night R and I watched "3:10 to Yuma", and what struck me most was how much Charlie Prince (right-hand-man of bad guy Ben Wade) loved Wade-- and possibly not in a platonic way-- which makes the ending that much sadder for everyone.

Also, I love that Wade and Dan Evans (the man hired to escort Wade to the prison train) keep switching allegiances for survival's sake. And here's another thing I think is interesting: Wade keeps talking about this green-eyed woman he knew back in the day and how he's looking for green-eyed love. He doesn't find it, but Evans has green eyes. Hm. Kinda makes ya think.

Wade is supposed to be a real charmer, and the director plays up his appeal. Unfortunately, I don't think Russel Crowe is attractive at all. Just not my type. Sorry Russell. Now, if they had put Johnny Depp in Wade's role, that woulda been somethin.
The movie is based on the book 3:10 to Yuma and Other Stories by Elmore Leonard. I'd almost like to read it and see how closely the movie parallels the story, but I'm not sure I love westerns that much. Besides, I've got several more Sharon Creech books on my list.

Comments