There are few actors working today who are as appropriate a fit for the Western genre as that of Academy Award winner, Russell Crowe. With his rugged charm and commanding physical presence, Crowe has put his stamp on the Western genre with his roles in films such as Sam Raimi‘s The Quick and the Dead, with his newest foray into the genre being the upcoming The Weight, co-starring Ethan Hawke and set against the backdrop of the Great Depression. But long before The Weight, Russell Crowe had a part in reviving the largely dormant Western genre with his leading role in James Mangold‘s 3:10 to Yuma, a remake of the 1957 film of the same name, which was released in 2007.

Also starring fellow Oscar winner Christian Bale, 3:10 to Yuma follows down-on-his-luck Civil War veteran Dan Evans (Bale), whose family has suffered at the hands of their drought-plagued ranch, which threatens to ruin their livelihood. In a desperate attempt to procure the necessary funds to save his ranch, Evans agrees to deliver infamous outlaw Ben Wade (Crowe) alive to the titular 3:10 to Yuma, a train that will transport Wade to prison, where he’ll be tried for his endless string of heinous crimes. Along the way, these morally antipodal men begin to find a sense of respect for one another as they face off against those who wish to get in their way, including Wade’s loyal gang of like-minded outlaws, led by Ben Foster‘s Charlie Prince. While this excellent slice of Western cinema boasts excellent production value and impeccable direction from Mangold, it’s Russell Crowe’s Ben Wade who truly steals the film and makes it as compelling and rewatchable as it is.

‘3:10 to Yuma’ Revived the Western Genre

Since the early 1970s, the Western has struggled to regain its once-treasured status as Hollywood’s most popular genre. While Westerns had dominated in the decades prior, with major stars like John Wayne and James Stewart headlining iconic masterpieces like The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and The Searchers (among countless others), the genre fell out of favor with audiences by the ’70s, with only a handful of notable films seeing mainstream success since. However, 3:10 to Yuma was an important part in reviving interest in the genre, paving the way for Westerns such as Ed Harris‘ overlooked Appaloosa and the Coen Brothers‘ Oscar-nominated True Grit remake, which would release in the years following 3:10 to Yuma‘s critical and commercial success.

3:10 to Yuma saw a return to form for the Western, adhering to certain themes and conventions of the genre, such as the classic hero’s journey or the determined homesteader with a sense of moral obligation. Even so, the film also subverts many classic Western tropes by portraying its hero, Dan Evans, as a character with a mix of both moral and personal motivations, wanting to do what’s right while also being motivated by personal gain. The film also depicts the West in a much less romanticized way than many classics of the ’40s and ’50s, examining the negative effects of capitalism and the constant struggle to survive amidst harsh environmental conditions, giving this remake far more layers than the original ’57 interpretation, which is to say that 3:10 to Yuma is one of the rare remakes that improves upon its predecessor. The film was even honored with two Oscar nominations for Best Original Score and Best Sound Mixing.

The genre may not have reached the heights of its glory years, but 3:10 to Yuma marked a temporary resurgence of the Western that saw a slew of star-studded, big-budget entries into a genre that had been largely relegated to B-movies and auteur-driven arthouse pieces in the years prior. Aside from those already mentioned, films like Quentin Tarantino‘s Oscar-winning Django Unchained thrived at the box office, showing a renewed interest in the genre that would unfortunately die out again rather quickly. It’s hard to say if the Western will ever see wide mainstream success again, but without 3:10 to Yuma, it’s likely that the genre would not have received the momentary bump in popularity that it did for a handful of years following its release.

Russell Crowe’s Ben Wade Is What Makes ‘3:10 to Yuma’ Great

While Christian Bale is terrific in his own right and deserves praise for his tender portrayal of Dan Evans, 3:10 to Yuma is undeniably the Russell Crowe show. Ben Wade is one of Crowe’s most entertaining and fascinating roles to date, with the role also serving as a departure from the types of roles that Crowe was most associated with at the time. Crowe uses his natural charisma to shape this ruthless killer into something more, revealing the subtle layers to Wade as the film progresses, and eventually leading him down a path of redemption.

Ben Wade is arguably one of the most complex villains in the Western genre to date. He’s a commanding force of nature who uses his intellect and charm to exploit others. Despite this, he does possess a moral compass, showing respect for the dead and finding a sense of kinship in those with integrity, namely that of Dan Evans, who manages to draw out the humanity in the ruthless, feared killer that is Ben Wade. Wade may be a deeply flawed individual who has taken advantage of the unpredictable nature of the Wild West, but he isn’t without a heart, and his unlikely friendship with Evans shows that there is more to him than meets the eye, culminating in a satisfying arc for his character. This is one of Crowe’s best performances, and I’d even argue he was snubbed for an Oscar nomination.

Russell Crowe’s Return to the Western Genre Is Long Overdue

Despite being the ideal pick to lead a big-budget Western epic, Russell Crowe hasn’t starred in a single Western since 3:10 to Yuma eighteen years ago, so his return to the genre with The Weight is a long time coming. Crowe has long turned in some of his best performances in period pieces, whether it be the severely underrated Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (still waiting on that sequel!), Ridley Scott‘s Best Picture-winning Gladiator, or even Scott’s overlooked Robin Hood adaptation, among many others. Crowe is such an obvious pick for a Western that it’s honestly staggering that it’s taken this long for him to return to the genre, yet there haven’t been too many blockbuster Westerns in the years since the post-3:10 to Yuma Western glow-up.

3:10 to Yuma features Crowe in top form, portraying a character who he was seemingly born to play. It stands not only as one of the best modern Westerns, but also as some of Crowe’s most impressive work as an actor, placing Ben Wade in the hall of fame of Western antagonists. Let’s hope that Crowe can bring some of that magic back with The Weight. It may be wishful thinking, but perhaps Crowe can even ignite another resurgence in a genre that has desperately needed another comeback.

3:10 to Yuma

Release Date

September 6, 2007

Runtime

122 minutes

Writers

Halsted Welles, Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, Elmore Leonard