December 2011 - Posts


Phil and Matt come to the end of their Western cycle with the 2007 western drama, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. The film combines a dreamlike feel with period authenticity.

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NOTE: This podcast contains SPOILERS.


Next up is our first contemporary western, the remake of 3:10 to Yuma, made in 2007 by director James Mangold. Phil and Matt discuss the merits of the story, the quality of the acting by Russell Crowe and Christian Bale and the strengths and weaknesses of a western filtered through the action movie genre.

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NOTE: This podcast contains SPOILERS.

Well, like I said, you ain't like that no more.
That's right. I'm just a fella now. I ain't no different than anyone else no more. 

The discussion of Western films brings Phil and Matt to the Clint Eastwood film, Unforgiven. It is both a revitalization of the genre after many years of neglect, and a reinterpretation of the persona that Mr. Eastwood has built through his impressive string of acting roles up to that time. The movie explores time, change, justice and revenge in a simple way that never that never undermines the complexities of those grand themes.

To listen, click here.

NOTE: This podcast contains SPOILERS.