"Butterfield: Twenty-two robberies. Over four hundred thousand dollars in losses. More in delays. The Southern Pacific will have Ben Wade convicted in a federal court. Hanged in public. An example made. And we will pay to make it happen."
"Ben Wade: Y'all notice he didn't mention any of the lives I've taken."
"The human fascination with creating illusions is an ancient one", (Corrigan White 98). Without an ensemble cast, a beautiful set, and costumes this period piece would not have been turned something that is believable today. After watching 3:10 to Yuma (2007), I learned that the lead actor is nothing without its supporting actors, the actors are nothing without the set and without the costumes this movie would not have worked.
In the movie, Russell Crowe plays a notorious robber out to take whatever he can get his hands on. Christian Bale plays his counterpart, a family man on the verge of losing his home due to his lack of funds. These two characters connect and stumble upon a journey neither one of them was expecting. The two men carry the film in a psychological twist with an ending you wouldn’t have thought could happen.
Casting Directors, Lisa Beach and Sarah Katzman, did an amazing job casting Bale as Dan Evans, a character completely opposite of his more famous role, Batman, in The Dark Knight (2008). Dan is a character you feel you have to cheer for, but there is something the way Bale plays him that makes you sense that this guy has something else he isn’t sharing. While he most of the time plays the leading admirable guy, Crowe is perfectly chosen as the rebel, Ben Wade, a man with a loyal following who will do anything to get their leader back. Crowe’s character is someone you are secretly cheering for because of the charisma Crowe displays on screen. Another great character is Charlie Prince. Played by Ben Foster, Prince is a devoted sidekick in Wade’s outlaw gang. He doesn’t know right from wrong. He only knows what Wade tells him to do, he never thinks for himself. His character never changes throughout the film. He is forever the sidekick and never a leader.Yes, without the actors there would be no movie. But without the costumes and the set the movie would just not be worth watching. Unless you enjoy actors just reading from a table, then this movie is not for you. Shot in New Mexico, a set was recreated and “Principal photography took place in and around (cities) Santa Fe, Abiquiú, and Galisteo. “ (Wikipedia 3:10 to Yuma) The set design was so good that, “After filming concluded, the owners of the Cerro Pelon Ranch petitioned to keep a $2 million expansion to the movie set on their property, which was supposed to be dismantled within 90 days. The set of 3:10 to Yuma made up 75% of the overall sets on the ranch. In April 2007, the request was met by the county's development review committee to keep the expansion, which would potentially generate revenue in the future.” (Wikipedia 3:10 to Yuma)
Through performative development, bypassing character types, and creating scenic realism this remake of 3:10 to Yuma (2007) is one that can create a Wild Wild West feel without ever leaving your living room.
3:10 to Yuma. Director. James Mangold. Perf. Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, Ben Foster, Logan Lerman. 2007. Lionsgate. DVD. 2008
Corrigan & White (2009), The Film Experience: An Introduction. (Chapter 3)
No comments:
Post a Comment