My personal favorite Western is Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch"
"The Wild Bunch" is wildly overrated. I love the gritty realistic tone, the high production values, and the three action sequences: The opening shootout, The compelling train robbery in the second act, and the outstanding closing shootout, a catharsis of blood. The material in between these three sequences isn't all that engrossing due to the fact that the characters aren't noble, likable or even redeemable, which is the film's weakness. I get the pessimistic message, but it doesn't change the fact that practically every character is an immoral or amoral dirtbag.
Speaking of which, Deke Thornton has the audacity to repeatedly call the members of his posse "gutter trash" and the like. Well, what is he? A freed-on-condition prisoner who was once a member of the very outlaw scum he's chasing. At least the posse members -- lowlifes that they are -- are on the right side of the law. What hypocrisy.
A lot of dialogue and drama is devoted to character development, but who cares about a bunch of criminal scumbags? How can you devote "character development" to people who have no character? That's the problem with the film.
That said, if you can accept the de-glorification of the Old West and the unlikable characters, "The Wild Bunch" is a solid Western with three thrilling sequences, including the unforgettable ending. There's a good message about the boldness of taking a stand and sticking by one's comrades, but that's the extent of the depth.
Other people have noted "Unforgiven" as one of the best Westerns. What I find unforgiving is that no one on this thread has yet mentioned "Dances With Wolves," easily one of the all-time best Westerns. And what about greats or near-greats like "One-Eyed Jacks," "The Missouri Breaks," "The Big Country," the underrated "Wyatt Earp," "Bandolero," "Duel at Diablo," "The Last Wagon," "The Horse Soldiers," "True Grit" (either version), "September Dawn," "Ride with the Devil," "Bad Company," "Chino," "Molly and Lawless John," "Tombstone," "3:10 to Yuma" (the remake), "Nevada Smith," and many more. Everyone's citing the same old same old, revolving around about five movies. I encourage people to quit parroting others and come up with a 'Best' list with a modicum of originality. (I'm not being arrogant, by the way, just challenging people to look beyond the supposedly tried-n-true).
My 150 (or so) favorite movies:
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070122364/
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snepts
8 years ago
I'll throw in McCabe and Mrs Miller. Talk about an unlikely Warren Beatty as anti-hero. And the snowy, muddy setting ! So unlike all the Westerns mentioned here. Altman is much more focused than many of his other films (like M*A*S*H). Not the best Western ever, no, but a very appealing film if you are can handle something that really doesn't have a happy ending. Add in the unusual touch of Leonard Cohen as the sort-of Greek chorus through-out, it's very touching.
(I'm not a woman, much less Deanna Durbin, but the old-time glam-shot appeals to me.)
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Wuchakk
8 years ago
Yeah, "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" is on my Best Westerns list for the very reasons you cite. It smacked of the way it really was rather than the mythology of typical traditional Westerns, e.g. the quick-draw tripe in "El Dorado" (a western I like a lot).
Here's my favorite Westerns list for anyone who might be interested: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls058973699/
My 150 (or so) favorite movies:
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070122364/
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TheHestinator
8 years ago
"The Wild Bunch" is wildly overrated.
I feel similarly about The Wild Bunch. It's not a bad movie (on IMDb I currently have it rated a 7/10) and the action scenes are some of the best ever filmed, but, between shootouts, I have a hard time caring about what's going on. The characters are not only a bunch of thugs, but they're, in my opinion, almost completely interchangeable with each other. That's not a sign in a men-on-a-mission movie. The musical score also fails to make an impression on me (so far, at least), unlike the ones from various other men-on-a-mission flicks. Anyway, my personal favorite western is Duck, You Sucker. Now there's a film that hits you like a load of exploding dynamite.
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Wuchakk
8 years ago
my personal favorite western is Duck, You Sucker. Now there's a film that hits you like a load of exploding dynamite.
Thanks for the recommendation; I'll have to check it out. I've heard of it, of course; just haven't gotten around to viewing.
My 150 (or so) favorite movies:
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070122364/
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TheHestinator
8 years ago
I can't guarantee you'll like it, because, like The Wild Bunch, the main characters are quite depraved, but I think it goes for the emotional jugular in a way that I don't think TWB does.
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