What Do The Critics Say?

"Westerns may be old fashioned, but as old-school homages go, superb writing and compelling acting will never go out of style." Bruce Bennett SPECTRUM "3:10 to Yuma barrels down the track at full force." Marjorie Baumgarten AUSTIN CHRONICLE "Russell Crowe and Christian Bale make terrific foes in this classic western tale." Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone THE MOVIE CHICKS "Reminded me of what a rare pleasure it has become to watch a straightforward and convincing adult genre film." John Beifuss COMMERCIAL APPEAL "Has a dark edge that's extremely well-developed by director Mangold, plus layered acting by Bale and Crowe." Rich Cline SHADOWS ON THE WALL "These are two top-notch actors - one British, one Australian - who are utterly at home in this most American of genres." Daniel M. Kimmel WORCESTER TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

"Director James Mangold, who hit his stride with the Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line, delivers another solid punch with this hard-edged and marvelously acted remake of Delmar Daves' classic 1957 western." Ken Fox TV GUIDES MOVIE GUIDE "a masterpiece of psychological drama coupled with a darn fine action flick that uses the classic western as its idiom. And then turns it on its head." Andrea Chase KILLER MOVIE REVIEWS "rip-roarin' Western with thrilling gunfights to match its moral tug-of-war, and both Bale and Crowe are terrific." Jeffrey Chen WINDOW TO THE MOVIES "3:10 to Yuma is that rarity -- an action Western pushed into overdrive by its complicated, savvy characters." K J Broughton FILM THREAT "This is a fine, handsomely staged movie, as exciting and stimulating as anything I've seen this year." Philip French OBSERVER 'Big screen entertainment that rides right next to the great ones, a blazing action-packed film that reminds you what first-rate storytelling and filmmaking is all about." Pete Hammond MAXIM

The Inside Story Originally published in 1953 in Dime Western Magazine, Elmore Leonard's short story "3:10 to Yuma" reached the screen four years later in a film directed by Delmer Daves, from a screenplay by Halsted Welles, and starring 1947 & 1957 Golden Apple Award winner Glenn Ford as Wade and 1943 Academy Award winner Van Heflin ("Johnny Eager"). The plot is simple: a cash-strapped named rancher Dan Evans volunteers to escort infamous outlaw Ben Wade to a prison-bound train. Director James Mangold was seventeen when he first saw the 1957 western and it made a lasting impression on him. "It startled me because the questions the film asked about morality, courage, honor and family were very sophisticated. The characters of Ben Wade and Dan Evans are much more complicated than simple black and white hats, and the story presented not only the potential for action but also a kind of claustrophobia; unique among westerns, one that forces these opposite characters into a very close and intense proximity," he said. Mangold drew inspiration from "3:10 To Yuma" in writing and directing his second feature, "Cop Land" (1997), an acclaimed drama starring Sylvester Stallone as an unassuming small-town sheriff who faces down a group of corrupt New York City cops. "Cop Land" was modeled on "3:10 To Yuma". "In fact, I named the main character, Sheriff Freddy Heflin, after Van Heflin, who played Dan Evans in the original film," the 1995 Gijón International Film Festival dual award winner revealed. Mangold began to seriously entertain the notion of remaking "3:10 To Yuma" while directing "Identity" (2002) for Columbia Pictures, which owned the film rights. "It struck me: why not actually try to tackle the original film and the original story ideas from a modern perspective?" he said. "Sometimes the most attractive land is the land that hasn’t been plowed lately and the western seemed to me to have been abandoned in the last decade. Yet it's such an integral part of American moviemaking." Mangold's longtime producer Munich Film Festival Award winner Cathy Konrad ("Citizen Ruth") was enthusiastic about a potential remake. She felt a contemporary audience could appreciate the story of an ordinary man forced to test himself in the harshest of circumstances. "I think that people want to relate to heroes who are real people. There are other ways to look at the world and to look at conflict other than superhero stories," she notes. "There's something very compelling about the struggles that people face in westerns, defining themselves, settling land, building families. There are no easy ways to solve problems. You really have to dig deep inside yourself and think about who you are and what matters to you. The backdrop may be the past, but the themes are very modern." Mangold and Konrad brought in writers Michael Brandt and Derek Haas to begin work on revisioning to the original screenplay. Mangold's focus for a new production was, "let's make it gritty. Let's make it real." Mangold and Konrad also wanted the trek from Bisbee to Contention (barely glimpsed in the original film), to be further dramatized in their production. If Mangold was intent on modernizing the western in terms of action and atmosphere, he was equally focused on casting the film with actors who possessed the authority of classic western heroes and villains. "It was important to convey that sense of masculinity, power and capability, which is intrinsic to the western," the director remarks. With that in mind, Oscar ® winner Russell Crowe ("Gladiator") was a natural choice for the cunning, charismatic Ben Wade. "Russell was who we always thought of for Wade, and he brings a clean, crisp, masculine commitment to the role. It's hard to make that leap into period films and figure out how to be yourself in them and somehow not bring down the scenery and the façade of that world." Crowe says, accepting the part was an easy decision. "I'd wanted to work with Jim for a while and there was a basic energy to the Ben Wade character that I liked." Wade is a man of implacable resolve and lightning judgment; a man who does him wrong can expect no mercy. Crowe believes his character's stern perspective is hard-earned and colors his every action. "There's a scene where Wade discusses a time when he read the Bible from cover to cover, and the reasons why he read the Bible from cover to cover. That, to me, is the central core of who Ben is. It wasn't a very pleasant experience for him when he read the Bible cover to cover, and I kind of took the attitude that he doesn't believe in a benevolent God. He got stuck somewhere in the Old Testament, and hasn't come out of there yet." 1989 Young Artist Award winner Christian Bale ("Empire of the Sun") was cast as Dan Evans, the beaten-down rancher and Civil War veteran and reluctant hero, who rediscovers his sense of strength and moral purpose while fulfilling his pledge to take Wade to the train. "Dan Evans is a man who is living life tied back, limping along trying to deal with the obstacles getting thrown at him. That made it interesting to cast someone with the kind of strength that Christian has. Christian has a kind of intensity and integrity that leaps out of his eyes. I think it makes for a really noble character, someone who you identify with," Mangold says. Bale too was eager to accept a role in the film. "I like to read a lot of scripts, but very rarely does one really stick with you. And this one did. It was a great story and a classic morality tale, as most westerns really are." He was intrigued by the dynamic between Evans and Wade, who forge a singular friendship during their journey. "There's a great battle of wills between the two, and a clash of philosophies; but there is an understanding and agreement about what society is. But they have absolute opposite approaches about how to deal with that society." 2004 Screen Actors Guild Award winner Ben Foster ("Six Feet Under") was cast as Wade's loyal, exceptionally ruthless right-hand man, Charlie Prince. Konrad praises Foster for finding notes of filial devotion and pride in the young gunslinger. Foster, whose first starring movie role was with Kirsten Dunst in the 2001 film "Get Over It" was a brilliant choice for the cold-blooded Prince. "One could have read the script and thought Charlie Prince is the baddest bad guy ever," says Konrad. To Foster, Prince's violence is not only part of his nature, it is inherent in his circumstances and his time. "I'm playing a man who's trying to rescue someone who means a lot to him," he explained. "And it is the Old West and, and the morals of survival are a lot harsher. Life is cheap." Hollywood legend and two time Golden Globe winner Peter Fonda ("Ulee's Gold" 1998 & TV'S "The Passion of Ayn Rand" 2000) joined the cast as the bounty hunter Byron McElroy. There is a tension between the bounty hunter and Wade that goes deeper than a simple conflict between authority and criminal. "I think they're different sides of the same coin," Fonda said. "They're both killers, only McElroy is supposedly working for the law and Wade is working on his own to bag all this loot from the railroad." Fonda, who made his own directorial debut with the 1971 western "The Hired Hand", applauds Mangold for an approach that suited both the genre and the story itself. "There's lots of action, which is the way we appreciate things today. But also I think it's a better way to tell the original 3:10 story, a better way to show character development. This is an epic western with a lot of punch." "3:10 To Yuma" marks Mangold's third collaboration with acclaimed director of photography Phedon Papamichael A.S.C. the Director and cinematographer, who perviously worked together on "Walk The Line" and Identity", staked out a modern, unfussy style they believed suited the film's suspense and physicality. "This film is not like a "Dances With Wolves". It's not about the scenery and the landscape and the scope," says the D.O.P. "We wanted to have a rougher, looser feel." "It was important that the film feel very aggressive, very alive and in the moment, and not like we were doing a kind of tribute or imitation of an old film," 2006 Amanda Award winner Mangold explained. "I actually tried to forget about a lot of the great westerns, to the degree that I just shot it like I was shooting it in New Jersey or New York City or Los Angeles or anywhere else. Just shoot it like it was happening." Production designer Andrew Menzies M.A., oversaw the creation of four distinct settings: the Evans ranch; the frontier town of Bisbee; the town of Contention, site of the train station; and the train station and its surrounding area. The look of the film's two towns, Bisbee and Contention, reflect their particular circumstances and their proximity to the new railroad. "The research was fascinating," says Menzies. "I've learned so much about the West and how arduous it was for the people who settled there; people wouldn't make it through the year if they didn't save up enough food or money to get them through the winter. It's stunning to realize how rapidly this country grew in the last part of the nineteenth century." To create the film's costumes, Mangold and Konrad brought onboard their longtime colleague, Arianne Phillips. The veteran designer gathered together a costume department that had extensive experience working on westerns, and they created some eighty percent of the wardrobe worn by the principal cast. "3:10 To Yuma" is a great production. Bale summs it up beautifully. "With a western, everything is pared down to its most basic: the story of man against the elements, man against man, man against himself. Then there's just the basic, great enjoyment of seeing a lot of tough guys shooting at each other." Synopsis

Dan Evans is a down and out rancher who lost his leg in the Civil War and doesn't want to lose his land to the Railway. With a wife and two sons, he is struggling to put food on the table, and is unable to make payments on his land. Life gets harder when their barn is burnt down and his cattle stampeded. When the notorious gunman Ben Wade is apprehended nearby in a Hotel, local men are asked to escort him to the town of Contention so he can be put on the 3:10 train to Yuma Prison. Few will volunteer for the job, as they know that Wade's ruthless gang will follow them. Evans sees an opportunity to make some fast cash, and offers to go in exchange for $200. The small team of men set off. Along the way, Evans's young son William, who has run away from home, joins them. It's a race against time and The group must get to Yuma without the cunning and dangerous Wade outsmarting them.

The Verdict "Mangold's film will revive memories of "Ranch Night" for Baby Boomers who grew up in an era when westerns dominated the screen at their local cinemas. Like all great westerns, "3:10 To Yuma" has every classic elements required to entertain it's audiences: there's the down on his luck rancher, hassled by those behind the expanding Railroad; the obligatory bad guys; a stage-coach hold-up; renegade Apaches; the harsh western landscape and, a rip snortin gunfight for a finale`. The cast, lead by three time AFI Award winner Russell Crowe ("Proof", "Romper Stomper" & "Cinderella Man") and NBR Award winner Christian Bale ("Empire of the Sun"), all give a good account for themselves. Two cast members who will leave a lasting impression in the minds of cinemagoers are Ben Forster and Logan Lerman. Foster's character Charlie Prince, epitomizes everything you'd expect from a cold-blooded, ruthless gunslinger. Sixteen year old Lerman ("Riding in Cars with Boys") gives an outstanding performance as the ranchers eldest son Will, who is drawn into the fray by his fascination for Wade and his need (despite a lack of years and his naïvety), to be treated as a grown-up. "3:10 To Yuma" is a film many will find a refreshing change. Very Recommended. 4 1/2 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "3:10 TO YUMA" stars .......
Russell Crowe ["A Beautiful Mind", "Cinderella Man", "A Good Year" and "American Gangster"]; Christian Bale ["Shaft", "Batman Begins", "Rescue Dawn" and "The Prestige"]; Logan Lerman ["The Patriot", "What Women Want", "The Butterfly Effect" and "The Number 23"]; Dallas Roberts ["Walk The Line", "The Notorious Bettie Page" and "Flicka"]; Peter Fonda ["Escape from L.A.", "The Limey", "South of Heaven, West of Hell" and "Ghost Rider"]; Vinessa Shaw ["40 Days and 40 Nights", "Melinda and Melinda" and "The Hills Have Eyes"]; Gretchen Mol ["Rounders", "Cradle Will Rock", "The Thirteenth Floor" and "The Notorious Bettie Page"]; Alan Tudyk ["Wonder Boys", "Serenity", "Death at a Funeral" and "Knocked Up"] and Ben Foster ["The Punisher", "Hostage", "X-Men: The Last Stand" and "30 Days of Night"] as Charlie Prince.
"3:10 TO YUMA" was .......
directed by James Mangold ["Cop Land", "Girl, Interrupted", "Identity" and "Walk the Line"]; set decoration by Jay R Hart ["L.A. Confidential", "Along Came Polly", "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines", "Spider-Man 2" and "Rumor Has It"]; art direction by Gregory A Berry ["Along Came Polly", "Monster-In-Law", "The Santa Clause 3" and "Reign Over Me"]; costume design by Arianne Phillips ["Girl, Interrupted", "Hedwig and the Angry Inch", "One Hour Photo" and "Walk the Line"]; production design by Andrew Menzies ["Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines", "Cast Away", "Syriana" and "Munich"]; edited by Michael McCusker A.C.E. ["Kings", "Walk the Line" and "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer"]; director of photography Phedon Papamichael A.S.C. ["Patch Adams", "Sideways", "Walk The Line" and "The Weather Man"]; original music by Marco Beltrami ["The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada", "Red Eye", "The Omen" and "Die Hard 4.0"]. Who's Who?

Russell Crowe Christian Bale Logan Lerman Dallas Roberts Ben Foster Peter Fonda Vinessa Shaw Alan Tudyk Luce Rains Gretchen Mol Lennie Loftin Rio Alexander Johnny Whitworth Shawn D Howell Pat Ricotti Ramon Frank Deryle Lujan James Augare Brian Duffy Jason Rodriguez Kevin Durand Chris Browning Chad Brummett Forrest Fyre Luke Wilson Ben Petry Arron Shiver Sean Hennigan Girard Swan Christopher Berry David Oliver Jason Henning

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Ben Wade Dan Evans William Evans Grayson Butterfield Charlie Prince Byron McElroy Emmy Nelson Doc Potter Marshal Weathers Alice Evans Glen Hollander Campos Tommy Darden Jackson Jorgensen Kinter Nez Nez Sutherland Tighe Tucker Crawley Kane Walter Boles Zeke Mark Evans Bill Moons Marshall Will Doane Deputy Harvey Pell Deputy Sam Fuller Evil Bartender Ticket Clerk

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