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The Old Way (2023)
Familiar setup refreshed with interesting characters
The Old Way begins with a beautifully cliché plot. Boy witnesses his father shot dead then 20 years later seeks revenge. (Miraculously Nick Cage does not age a day) The twist on this time-tested plot is the characters mental state. At first Cage, playing gunslinger turned family man Colton Briggs, comes across as the typical hard edged western tough guy but as the story unfolds, we learn he is emotionally vacant. The plot point is better illustrated in his daughter played by Ryan Armstrong. Armstrong's character is introduced well in the beginning when she cleans and sorts a jar of jelly beans by color. Through out the movie her portrayal of the Briggs' emotional condition really sells the story ideas. The villain James McCallister, played by Noah Le Gros, is obsessed with revenge against Briggs for killing his father. Nothing overly unique about this character but maybe when looking at the theme of the Briggs family the writer may have been trying to show another aspect of mental illness with McCallister. I watch a lot of westerns so McCallister came across as a typical western villain to me.
Overall, I enjoyed The Old Way. I like cliché plots that have been refreshed a bit. I recommend this to fans of Cage and Westerns, being a fan of one or the other is not enough.
The Salvation (2014)
Danish "spaghetti" western
This movie had to have been inspired or at least influenced by Sergio Leone. It's a classic gritty western where the hero is horribly wronged then proceeds to rain down vengeance on the bad guys. Mads Mikkelsen's character is very reminiscent of Eastwood's early performances but he still makes it his own. Mikael Persbrandt doesn't get a tremendous amount of screen time but he makes good use of what he is given. Both Mads and Mikael were able to display themselves as tired war veterans without having to use much dialogue or exposition. Jeffery Dean Mogan makes an excellent villian. His character reminded me of a calmer version of Negan.
If your a fan of classic westerns then I highly recommend this one for you.
Black Adam (2022)
Comparatively good
Black Adam is far from comic accurate, the comedic quips fall flat (particularly those of Atom Smasher), and the plot is predictable. Despite all that Black Adam still delivers a fun and entertaining movie. It's basically the Rock kicking ass for two hours. I think the timing of its release did it credit; compared to the last batch of superhero movies Black Adam shines like a diamond. The action is great although a little overuse of the Flash-esq slow motion.
I really don't have much more to say about this one. It's just a good old fashion superhero movie. Maybe not theater worthy but still worth seeing as soon as you get a chance.
Sweet Country (2017)
Slow but steady
Sweet Country is a slow but steady western. I thought the themes were similar to Hostile in that both movies make you think about issues of that time. I don't know much about Australian history but I can believe that the atrocities depicted in this film could have happened. It highlights the poor treatment of Aboriginals and it touches on combat PTSD. A unique storytelling technique is used by showing fragments of a flashback or flashforward. It is an interesting way to give some character background or hint at their fate. If your looking for a western that is less tradition (not a shoot 'em up) and one that will make you think I recommend this one.
Terror on the Prairie (2022)
Not worth a sub to DW, but it is worth a view if you come across it elsewhere
There is quite the contrast between the first scene of this movie and the true beginning. Terror on the Prairie begins with an act of violence equal to modern cinema but the next scene hits the brakes. It slowly continues reminiscent of Once Upon a Time in the West. As the movie progresses it began to remind me of Jeremiah Johnson. But once the plot starts to unfold it becomes a slightly more traditional western. Honestly, I don't expect much of a plot from westerns I watch. I want to see good guys verse bad guys and this movie delivers that. Unfortunately, it suffers from stiff and unemotional acting, poor pacing, and little story/character development. The only presentation of note was Nick Searcy's portrayal of the Captain, he nailed and I'd love to see him in another western. Maybe my expectations for Gina Carano were too high. Something was just missing from her performance; she was not used to her full potential. The marksmanship of all the characters was worse than a stormtrooper to the point of absurdity. All that being said, I did enjoy the movie.
I loved the depiction of the struggles of life in the far west post Civil War and I always love when the protagonist over comes overwhelming odds. Terror on the Prairie does a fantastic job capturing the disparity of families attempting to forge an independent future away from the perceived security of the east. The cinematography is great and really highlights the setting. The movie really is beautiful especially considering the low budget.
I'll admit I am bias because I love westerns (even bad ones like Aces & Eights). This move is not worth subscribing to Daily Wire, but it is worth a view if you come across it elsewhere.
The Virginian (2014)
Choppy Plot
I have heard more than a few comments on the quality of Trace Adkin's acting; I'm not sure what folks are expecting from a shoot 'em up western. I thought Trace fit the expected archetype of the western hero. It's for sure not Oscar worthy but it is on par with most action westerns.
I have never read the source material for this movie. I expect the movie took some liberty with the story. The plot does not flow very smoothly and left me with a lot of questions. It's not very clear what Trace's and the writer's job is or why he is constantly riding around the country. They mention off-handedly about doing some ranch work but generally, it seems they just like to ride around and camp.
It feels like a chunk of the story is missing. It never builds any motivation or emotion for the characters. Backstory is never really established.
I recommend this movie if your a Trace fan or a little bored and want something you don't have to pay much attention to.