Best Westerns of the 21st Century
1. True Grit
Superbly shot by cinematographer Roger Deakins and supported by a host of strong performances, True Grit really is a traditional western in every sense. Indeed, it’s a throwback to Wayne, to Ford, to Fonda, and to the Golden Age of the Western Cinema. The film follows the classic western framework, as it slowly builds and builds to its exciting climax when Mattie, Cogburn, and La Beauf come face to face with end of their search.
2. Open Range
A film that has relatively flown under the radar since its August 2003 release, Open Range directed by Kevin Costner is a story of revenge, as when two aging gunslingers discover the rotting corpses of their fellow travelers, they attempt to bring down the gang of men responsible. The final showdown in this film may very well be the best shoot out in the history of the western; its length, pace, and the way in which it was framed all seem perfectly calculated by Costner.
For a western featuring no shootouts, no showdowns, and limited violence of any kind, Meek’s Cutoff is a film that contains extraordinary tension within its contemplative pacing. This tension draws itself not from anything physical, but rather emotional and mental, specifically from the fear of the unknown. For our fragile travellers, everyday without water represents a day closer to death; every hilltop represents cover for impending attackers; and every dark of night represents a shadow for potential predators to observe and strategize.
Dubbed a Kimchi Western, the first of its kind, based on the famous Korean dish whereby associating itself with the Spaghetti Westerns of old, The Good The Bad The Weird takes several of its components from past examples of the genre and the result is something entirely fresh and invigorating.
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