Aces 'N' Eights

Its been a long time since I have watched a western and this one, to some extent, did make it worth while watching.

People in a small town are violently forced to sell their ranches at a railroad price as the the on coming railway would go through their land. But the Government sends in their man from Chicago to sort this out in a peaceful manner. And just as things seem to go well, one of the ranch owners is killed in a shootout.

The movie, directed by Craig Baxley, stars Casper Van Dien, Bruce Boxleitner, Ernest Borgnine and Jeff Kober.

As much as I liked this movie and as much as I like to watch westerns, I felt that the script in some areas and that writers along with with the director and the the actors could have done something to make it stronger. Perhaps it was even trying to make some actors be the likes of James Stewart, John Wayne and Clint Eastwood who would have suited more. But never the less it was a good movie and be aware there are some violent scenes that one with a weak heart may not want to watch.

Awesome Western. I have been an Earnest Borgnine fan for many years. Now in his 90's Borgnine still has that twinkle in his eye. He has made many great movies that include The Wild Bunch, The Dirty Dozen and McHales Navy and more too numerous to mention. In this one he is a ranch owner who killers employed by the railroad are trying to run off his land. Of course he says nuts to that and the shooting starts. Casper VanDien and Bruce Boxleitner are also awesome in this. Yes I recommend it. James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 2/27/2021

The railroad must go through! A reformed outlaw sides with the dirt farmers in a fight with a crooked railroad promoter who uses outlaws to murder the farmers who oppose him. Good script, good acting, portentous music, along with good photography, stunt work and editing make this an above average Western. Uses all the cliches, of course. Lots of fighting towards the end, brutal murders along the way, but surprisingly little gore, which makes the violence all the more effective.

Local railroad boss William Atherton sends hired killers Jeff Kober and Bruce Boxleitner to get rid of pesky landowners like Ernest Borgnine, who refuse to sell out. Complicating things for Atherton is progressive thinking railroad executive Jack Noseworthy and Borgnine's hired hand Casper Van Dien.

A competent cast of familiar character actors try hard, but this is pretty much done in by the extreme familiarity of the material (see Once Upon A Time In The West) and the fact that the script focuses on too many characters at once, resulting in a lot of half-formed characterizations, sort of like a television series highlight reel.

As usual with director Craig R. Baxley, it's well made and the action scenes are expertly handled. However, Baxley (as well as most modern filmmakers) seems to have left out the nuances that made many of the older westerns true classics.

One thing I could never understand about these type of westerns is the railroad's desire to to take the whole ranch in order to lay a single five-foot wide track. Didn't those wackos ever hear of an easement?

Howard (William Atherton) is in charge of the construction of a railway line. With a few properties in the way and with farmers refusing to sell because their properties are worth more than they're offered, Howard resorts to drastic measures to 'eliminate' the farmers. Tate (Jeff Kober), a ruthless man with no conscience, seems to enjoy torturing and killing the farmers.

Casper van Dien stars as Luke Rivers, who helps Thurmond Prescott (Ernest Borgnine) on his farm. He used to ride with Tate, but resorted to a new, peaceful life. His romance interest is the school teacher, Jo Tanner (Deidre Quinn). I found their romance subtle and beautiful.

The film's opening scenes set the tone for what Tate and his henchmen are capable of. This elevates the tension as negotiations with Prescott fails, and Tate planning to 'deal with him.' In the middle of all the chaos is Jess Riley (Jack Noseworthy) from the Railroad, who is trying to settle matters peacefully.

'Aces 'n Eights' is an action-packed, and fairly violent Western.