The western. A classic cinema genre ever since moving pictures have been captured on celluloid, and a personal favorite. It’s been remixed in every possible flavor from comedy to sci-fi to romance, and manages to stand the test of time as a genre to revisit. I recently caught a western on Netflix (In a Valley of Violence…wasn’t terrible) that kicked off an exploration of the genre, and got me thinking of some of my favorites like; High Plains Drifter, The Dollars / Man with No Name Trilogy, Unforgiven, Tombstone, Slow West, Shane, so many. Then I started down the dusty path of the neo-western, and immediately came up with three that I thought fit the bill perfectly for a playlist. I give you…the Neo Tumbleweed.
No Country for Old Men (2007) – Trailer
Well, this is a no-brainer. For a movie that came out in 2007 it still gets analyzed in every cinephile corner of the internet. From script (which you can download here), to cinematography by this guy, to sound design, No Country is pretty damn close to, if not, a masterpiece and a lesson in how to make a great film.
Hell or High Water (2016) – Trailer
If there’s anything we need more of in this world, it’s Ben Foster, doing Ben Foster things, in more movies. Throw in a little Jeff Bridges doing his best…uh…Jeff Bridges impersonation of his character from True Grit, and you really can’t lose. Also, you can’t go wrong with this opening shot / sequence. Seemingly, effortless execution that shows you, where you are, the state of the world you’re in, and builds tension in a single shot. It’s like a sip of fine scotch after dinner. F**king fantastic.
Logan (2017) – Trailer
That trailer still gives me goosebumps. This one might seem out there, but it’s really not. This is a western with claws. So much of this film ripped frames right from Shane (in a good way mind you) that it even had it playing in the background in a few shots. It’s raw, brutal, ferocious and has more heart than most movies you’ll see. Is it a case of getting away with retelling a small story, but under the super hero banner? The argument many make about Joker (it’s Taxi Driver in disguise). Maybe. Is Star Wars just The Hidden Fortress in space? Does it really matter? If the story is good, interesting, and moves you…who cares? It’s good to know where things came from but not to the detriment of enjoying it, as long as you do.
