Gone Are the Days

Not just a great Western - this is a great movie. I was shocked at IMDB low rating of 4.8. I guess they were expecting High Noon? Yet Casting, Acting, Direction ... it's a damn good job all the way around. There's a hint that the movie is loosely based upon Dante's Inferno. I think that's worth knowing going in because it gives to some insight into certain things that happen. It really adds something. The yarn is good - the Acting superb. I'll be watching it again sooner than later - and I believe it was worthy of some Nominations.

Despite having (the always endearingly odd) Steve Railsback and Tom Berenger in supports, Danny Trejo in a cameo the whole show here is Lance Henriksen.

He is a wonderfully convincing as a former bad man, dying of natural causes and unhappy with who he has become physically and, perhaps, mentally. His solution is to exit life in a blaze of glory whilst confronting personal demons and righting past wrongs. Along the way he is joined by the ghost of a colleague and, what seems to be, Death. Cheery this isn't.

The photography is of the modern realism school (perhaps also because of the low budget) and the supporting characters aren't fleshed out. The films starts slow and is short on action but it is a "slow burn" with elegiac asides. It comes across as a cross between the masterful "The Shootist" (1976) and (the somewhat overrated but much loved) "Unforgiven" (1992).

Not magnificent but definitely one for lovers of westerns, who are familiar with the genres tropes or for lovers of Lance Henriksen, of which there should be more.

You'll need patience to get rewards out of this very slow burn Western, as it won't appeal to everyone. Lance Henriksen and Tom Berenger lead the way here. Henriksen portraying the former bank robber Taylon, now aged and dying but looking to pull off one final heist so he can give the money to his daughter (Meg Steedle). Berenger plays the former Texas Ranger Will McMullen, who is now the eccentric sheriff of the town of Durango, where Taylon's bank target is.

In my opinion, too much emphasis on Taylon's deteriorating health and some unexplained plot elements mar the movie somewhat. But if you're the type of viewer that doesn't mind a slowly developing story, there are rewards here in the believable performances and even some dry humor adding well to the mix.

Movie moves kind of slow, focuses on what its like getting old and knowing its almost over

Has some underlying messages on how some younger guys figure old guys are 'out' of it

Redemption the hard way, going out like a man etc

Lots of cigarette smoking

Very good to above average acting, good direction, good camera work, excellent costume work. Characters are believable, ages are correct for roles. Set pieces look real for the times they are in

Trio should NEVER have gotten first billing, he is barely in this movie.

Good symbolism done in the movie for 'crossing over'

--Enjoy

This movie is a perfect example of why plot and plot development is king when creating a film. The casting and strange dialog elements that are drawbacks in this film are easily overlooked because of how great the plot is. Some of the accents and lines simply don't fit and do not feel like they belong. However the story shines through and truly comes to a great resolution. No academy award level film but definitely a decent movie to watch if you're looking for a easily digestible "western"