Posted on 07/14/2018 8:19:28 AM PDT by Oldpuppymax
Sam Raimi's The Quick and the Dead is an interesting yarn featuring some tight writing and fine performances from an ensemble of very good thespians. It also sports a really good 4K HDR transfer that makes it even better.
The Western drama stars Sharon Stone (who also co-produced), Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio. All are, or were, gunslingers who congregate in a nondescript one-horse town called Redemption for a gunfighting competition in which all comers shoot it out with whoever challenges them, the winner taking home a huge pot (well, chest) of money.
Stone is a woman bent on revenge against Hackman, whose character owns the town and everyone in it and who is also the target (figuratively and/or literally) of nearly every other gunslinger who shows up. Well, some are just there for the money, but Hackman's character is such a horrible person that it seems as if everyone wants him dead - and if they didn't want him dead when they got to Redemption, they undoubtedly did once they'd stuck around a bit.
And with good reason! If you thought Hackperson's character as the sheriff in Unforgiven was a nasty guy, "Quick'n'Dead's" John Herod makes Little Bill Daggett look like a saint!
Stone's Ellen (a.k.a. "the lady") arrives in Redemption on the eve of the Big Gun Fight, when they're putting together the "pecking order" for the contest. Besides Hackman, she's joined by Leonardo DiCaprio's "the Kid", Russell Crowe as a former gunman and associate of Herod who has seen the error of his ways and turned preacher but gets forced into the event by Herod. Also along for the high calibre contest are gunslingers played by such journeyman performers as Keith David and Lance Henriksen.
Also on hand in supporting roles...
(Excerpt) Read more at thecoachsteam.com ...
Horrible movie!
It’s a bit contrived but entertaining.
I didn’t like it much either. From a historical perspective the story and characters seemed unrealistic.
Lance Henrikson is good in these roles.
As stupid a movie as I’ve ever seen. Laughable.
A real collection of slimey, bottom feeding characters (excluding the good guys) and certainly not intended to be historically correct, it is a fun work of fiction that is entertaining...especially if you enjoy western fiction in general.
Well, at least Stone got revenge on Hackman for her father’s death and the town lost its arch villain. (chuckle).
Fun entertainment.
Excellent movie. I feel bad for people who couldn’t find entertainment in such a flick. Gene Hackman at the top of his game, as usual. And a great cast of interesting characters... and plenty of great lines.
“ you’re not fast enough for me”
“ today I am “.
Ellen was supposed to be this avenger, riding out of the wilderness to bring justice to Herod.
But, people who spend their lives out of doors in the sun develop weathered skin. I grew up on the prairie. My grandfather farmed, as well as all of my great uncles on both sides of the family. I joined the marines at Seventeen. Nobody living the life Ellen was supposed to has smooth, flawless skin. Not male people and not female people either.
The studio probably spent a fortune making sure Sharon stone looked like a model in every shot. If you think about it, that is diametrically opposite from the way directors like Sergio Leonie depicted the west.
I suppose this never registered with people who have lived their life indoors, but for me it broke the suspension of disbelief in every scene.
It never registered with me because I was watching an entertaining MOVIE, not a documentary. It was a good story. Can't people just watch a movie for the entertainment value?
This movie was over the top, but I like it.
It would have been a total dud without Gene Hackman - it’s no “Wild Bunch” but definitely watchable.
I think Silverado was the last great Western, but there are lots of gems out there.
You’re right, it would have been a totally better movie if Susan Estridge played that part! bwahahahaha...
LOL
It’s a great homage to Sergio Leone, but in the end it’s better to watch the Leone’s than the homage.
“...but there are lots of gems out there....”
* Unforgiven
* Open Range
* Tombstone
* Man Who Shot Libery Valence (one of worldwide top ten)
To name a few of my favs.....
Lots of gems. :)
Augustus McCray and Captain Call get a bit parched on the trail..
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