Starring:
Year of Release: 1995
Rated: R
Director: Sam Raimi
Approx. Running Time: 107 minutes
Format(s): DVD
My Rating: 4 stars (Out of 5)
Featurette:
From Back Cover:
"One Of The Most Original Westerns In Years."
-Jeff Craig, Sixty Second Preview
SHARON STONE, GENE HACKMAN, RUSSELL CROWE, LEONARDO DICAPRIO and director Sam Raimi reinvent the American Western in this wild, sexy shoot-out studded with action, suspense, and offbeat humor.
My Comments:
The basic plot is this: As a child, Ellen (Sharon Stone) was a witness - and accidental participant - in the murder of her father by John Herod (Gene Hackman) and his gang. As an adult, Ellen seeks revenge on the man by entering into a "quick draw" contest in the town of Redemption, where Herod is the mayor and tyrannical ruler.
Also entered in the contest is a myriad of eccentric characters that battle "The Lady" and each other. Some are there for the glory and some for the money. But three are there for other reasons - One is there because Herod is holding him prisoner and forcing him to fight. Another is there because he has something to prove to Herod. And a third has been hired by the townsfolk to kill Herod.
Although some of the scenes are a bit over-the-top and not necessarily historically accurate (but let's not forget that the movie's director had started his career making cult-classic B Horror films like The Evil Dead trilogy), this is a really fun, highly entertaining film with lots of action and an all-star cast.
On the subject of B horror films, Evil Dead star - and cult hero - Bruce Campbell is listed in the credits as "Wedding Shemp." However, he isn't actually in the movie. According to his autobiography, If Chins Could Kill: Confessions Of A B Movie Actor, Campbell explains that he was merely visiting friend Sam Raimi on the set, when Raimi cast him in a scene that was shot merely to pacify one of the actors (who felt he wasn't getting enough screen time). Raimi had no intention of actually using the scene in the final cut and consequently it didn't make it into the film and was not included as any kind of bonus on the DVD release.
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Q
Rated R (MPAA)
4 Stars
1995
Westerns
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