Ray Pride

James Mangold, one of the more articulate directors on the subject of film history and the components of visual style, observed to an interviewer of tackling "3:10 to Yuma," his first Western, "I've had such a picaresque journey through genre. I almost take it for granted that every movie becomes a new world to learn." With the richly burnished look of the sun-drenched desert in his beautifully shot new film, Mangold's stylishness suits the subject, amply capturing the lean and rugged reality of the great out-of-doors. Drawing from a 1957 film of the same name, and a short story by Elmore Leonard (in his pre-detective oater days), "3:10 to Yuma" also offers ample room for several actors to work their wiles. Christian Bale's dogged rectitude as a wronged farmer lurches into interesting territory (as does his character's young son); Russell Crowe gleams with ornery intelligence, the kind that makes a man toy with other people; and young Ben Foster, as a cruel sidekick, almost outdoes his mania in "Alpha Dog" with a performance he himself described as part Ziggy Stardust, and part wildcat. There's admirably ripe dialogue to admire, too. 124m.

"3:10 To Yuma" pulls out of the station Friday.

(2007-09-04)

Also by Ray Pride

Bitter Biter Bit
"Delirious" is one the worst movies I’ve ever sat through, at least one that was compounded by someone old enough to shave, and should be recommended only to connoisseurs of abjection
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Tip of the Week
Expanding on an acquaintance with a woman who appears in their startling documentary, "Mardi Gras: Made in China," David Redmon and Ashley Sabin capture months in the lives of an impromptu tent community that is assembled by Upper Ninth Ward fixture, the Native American Ms. Pearl
(2007-08-28)

Under My Umbrella
Where’d the summer go?" a woman says, crashing into the room with a friend who’s got a matching soggy RedEye atop her hair
(2007-08-21)

Needing the Eggs
Part of the great, scary thrill of writer-director-editor-composer-star Julie Delpy's accomplishment with "2 Days in Paris" is how it would be less than disturbing if either of her thirtysomething, cross-cultural couple were to turn to the other and murder them suddenly, so vivid, vital, draining, exhilarating is their sustained comic contumely across a long weekend two years into a relationship
(2007-08-21)

Tip of the Week
(2007-08-21)

Mclovin It
(2007-08-14)

Tip of the Week
(2007-08-14)

Engineering This Fiasco
(2007-08-10)

Engineering This Fiasco
(2007-08-07)

Tip of the Week
(2007-08-07)

Life after Life
(2007-07-31)

Tip of the Week
(2007-07-31)

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