ViewGuide

Created Aug 21, 2009 10:59PM PST • Edited Aug 21, 2009 10:59PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Very Good 3.5

   A sleeper-hit in this reviewer’s opinion. The movie starts with a bang, never lets up, and shows that even a hardened pair of guns can lighten up when around a pretty woman. Although the shoot-em-up violence is hard edged, this movie has a softness that provides balance, resulting in a very fun, entertaining, light-hearted, and updated look at a traditional western story.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen make a natural pair as Virgil and Everett. When I usually talk about chemistry, I’m thinking of a male-female thing, but in this case, the two male stars really work well together. Dare I say Butch and Sundance revisited? The two get each-other in a believable way. And then there is Renee Zellweger. Despite not coming to mind for this type of role, she fits in well and shows that her softness toughens quite adequately in the wild west.

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

    A great tribute to an old fashioned western, but with an updated look at romance and the effect of the female persuasion. The action was tight, the dialog not overly dumbed down, and the mix of western style violence and romance a real treat.

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

12. Play Very Good 3.5

13. Music Very Good 3.5

14. Visuals Very Good 3.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.1

17. Sex Titillating 2.1

18. Violence Fierce 2.1

19. Rudeness Salty 2.1

21. Reality

    Glib 1.9

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.9

23. Biological Glib 1.9

24. Physical Glib 1.9