Cowboys and Aliens is the most faithfully advertised product, ever. Everything you need to know about it, as well your relative interest in it is right there in the title. If the name of the movie alone makes you skeptical then you might as well leave it at that, there are absolutely no surprises in this film, and as far as I’m concerned there is nothing wrong with that. Cowboys and Aliens is a terrific good time and if you’re willing to look past the initial conceit this is as fun and brisk an action-adventure film as you can get.
Daniel Craig plays an amnesiac who awakes in the desert and proceeds to slowly piece together his memory while coming face to face with the invading extra-terrestrials. Craig is as stoic as ever, but he is at least convincing and believable in the part, making him a great hero to follow as he leads a band of misfits to defend their homes. Harrison Ford has a great part as an old Colonel with a shady business and a wild card son who seemingly owns the small town. Ford is brilliant in the film, giving his best performance in what seems like over a decade, he really commits to the role (something of a rarity for him) giving an emotionally filled performance that will undoubtedly be looked back on as the last great Harrison Ford character.
What truly caught me by surprise was how serious the movies tone is, especially given the concept. This is as gritty and dark a western as your likely to find, it just so happens to be set during an alien invasion. Though the setup may seem ridiculous and even goofy, this movie is no joke. Balancing scenes of a good old fashion Saloon brawl with a lengthy Indian ritual that causes Craig's character to go on a hummingbird guided spirit journey. It’s astonishing how much this movie wants you to swallow, and as the plot gets more and more outlandish it doesn’t bat an eyelash. Your enjoyment of Cowboys and Aliens depends solely on your ability to immerse yourself in its world, if you can’t buy into the notion that aliens would invade the old west while abducting seemingly random people, then this movie will never win you over. I on the other hand, buy into movies 100%, I want to believe in the exciting adventure no matter how “out-there” it may seem. I become engaged and suffice to say when Harrison Ford’s character has his defining moment, I welled up.
Jon Favreau directs the film hot off the wildly successful Iron Man franchise and he proves to be a perfect fit. Favreau can direct the heck out of an action movie, setting up some great highly memorable set-pieces that excite as much as frighten. He does an admirable job balancing the old western side of the story with the sci-fi elements to provide a surprisingly fun and refreshing cocktail. Not to say Cowboys and Aliens does anything exceptionally groundbreaking but it does defy expectations. Favreau is also well known for bringing out interesting performances out of his actors, which he does again here with Ford who really digs deep giving an interesting portrayal of a lawless man with a terrifying past but good intentioned. Even Favreau stalwart Sam Rockwell gives an endearing if brief performance.
What truly caught me by surprise was how serious the movies tone is, especially given the concept. This is as gritty and dark a western as your likely to find, it just so happens to be set during an alien invasion. Though the setup may seem ridiculous and even goofy, this movie is no joke. Balancing scenes of a good old fashion Saloon brawl with a lengthy Indian ritual that causes Craig's character to go on a hummingbird guided spirit journey. It’s astonishing how much this movie wants you to swallow, and as the plot gets more and more outlandish it doesn’t bat an eyelash. Your enjoyment of Cowboys and Aliens depends solely on your ability to immerse yourself in its world, if you can’t buy into the notion that aliens would invade the old west while abducting seemingly random people, then this movie will never win you over. I on the other hand, buy into movies 100%, I want to believe in the exciting adventure no matter how “out-there” it may seem. I become engaged and suffice to say when Harrison Ford’s character has his defining moment, I welled up.Jon Favreau directs the film hot off the wildly successful Iron Man franchise and he proves to be a perfect fit. Favreau can direct the heck out of an action movie, setting up some great highly memorable set-pieces that excite as much as frighten. He does an admirable job balancing the old western side of the story with the sci-fi elements to provide a surprisingly fun and refreshing cocktail. Not to say Cowboys and Aliens does anything exceptionally groundbreaking but it does defy expectations. Favreau is also well known for bringing out interesting performances out of his actors, which he does again here with Ford who really digs deep giving an interesting portrayal of a lawless man with a terrifying past but good intentioned. Even Favreau stalwart Sam Rockwell gives an endearing if brief performance.
Cowboys and Aliens is a polarizing movie; its an outlandish concept but it’s dead serious in its exposition. It’s a fun adventure film filled with laughs, death defying action, engaging performances and a few fun twists along the way. My only major complaint comes from the alien design, which looks uninspired and even slightly ripped from other more famous aliens. Cowboys and Aliens offers little surprises since its entire premise is right there in the title and there is little else on offer even still its a great and rousing film, that had me smiling and generally thrilled throughout.
(4 out of 5)
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