This movie is a pretty standard Western, though tamer than most. It’s a fun time, baseline enjoyable, an adventure without being adventurous.
Closest comparison: It’s like Shane by way of Rio Bravo, both of which are better films.
Setting: Western
Plot: Western
Tone: Western
This movie is an excellent Western that stands on its own feet, without the rape-revenge or one-lone-hero tropes to fall back on. Discovering who Katie Elder is along with her sons is an engaging plot and propels the story well through to the end, providing a solid backdrop for the meaty character drama. This film has several good shootouts, as any good Western should, but it’s got much more going on. If you’re not particularly familiar with the Western genre, this is a very approachable place to start.
Closest comparison: It’s like Stagecoach by way of Shane.
Setting: Western
Plot: Detective
Tone: Family Drama
This movie is a thoughtful, melancholy look at the Western genre. Casting John Wayne in the lead lends a lot of depth to the role, since the film is an introspection on the kinds of films he’s known for starring in. It’s not heavy on action, though there’s enough, and the narrative is more interested in what it is to be a gunfighter and what that does to someone over a lifetime of violence. It’s a well-conceived story and excellently acted, definitely worth a watch for anyone who’s a fan of the classic John Wayne westerns.
Closest comparison: It’s like Wild Strawberries by way of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
Setting: Western
Plot: Reminiscence
Tone: Drama
This movie is one of the all-time classic westerns, but unfortunately it does not live up to the hype. It’s aggressively tone-deaf, transitioning back and forth between scenes of gut-wrenching tragedy and lighthearted western antics like whiplash. There’s no emotional payoff for the injustices perpetrated in the first act, and multiple times main characters will suddenly do things they’ve said they wouldn’t with no warning or explanation given. Except for the score, cinematography, and acting, which are all excellent, this movie is an absolute mess.
Closest comparison: It’s like Man on Fire (2004) by way of Once Upon A Time in the West.
Setting: Western
Plot: Road Trip
Tone: Rescue Thriller
This film is so classic that seemingly all other movies featuring stagecoaches pulled from it, even modern films like The Hateful Eight and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. It’s one of the great John Ford westerns, and even after all this time still holds up to modern viewing. There are plenty of great character moments slathered on top of the rich western setting and the solid underlying story, and it’s the characters that carry the film and make it so memorable even today.
Closest comparison: It’s like the final vignette in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs by way of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
Setting: Western
Plot: Confined Strangers
Tone: Adventure
