Wild, Wild, West

Most good things are worth having a thoughtful conversation over.  Movies are no different and neither are the subcategories within the movie world.  Tonight I re-watched, for probably the 50th time (at least), the greatest Western ever made.  I threw out a challenge, more out of the curiosity to see what others thought should be deserving enough of that title, and got a few responses.  Apologies to the fans of Young Guns II, Almost Heroes, and Bad Girls, but there are 5 movies that stand out amongst the greatest ever made in the category of Western.  

5. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Most movie critics will debunk the spaghetti western and not give it the time of day.  I am quite the opposite.  There is something to be said about the entire Man With No Name Trilogy.  The culmination of the entire trilogy is my favorite of the three films and it has everything a fan of a western would want.  What sets this ahead of the films below it is the soundtrack.  Not only the eerily familiar title track but the also popular Ecstasy of Gold that brings the film together at the end.  Eastwood is Eastwood but this movie puts him above his other performances

4. The Proposition

Here's the movie you probably have not seen yet but you need to...immediately.  The 2005 Australian film set in the Outback is not the typical western but it has all of the elements that make it one of the best.  Guy Pearce, who most will remember from his fantastic performance in LA Confidential, is a memorable protagonist caught between the grips of justice and the morals of murder.  Not giving anything away but his struggles with conscience help give the film depth at times when you think it will lose you. 

3. The Searchers

Some might view it as a sacrilege to only have one John Wayne movie in the top 5 for this category.  However, John Ford's masterpiece stands above all the rest.  The AFI has it listed as the number one western ever made, hence the reasoning of a mini-blog like this.  It is my favorite of all the classic westerns and one that can be embraced not only for its stunning cinematography, but for John Wayne not playing the typical John Wayne character.  Like all on this list, if you have not seen it; then you are most certainly missing out.

2. Blazing Saddles

Poke fun all you want at this choice but it is true.  Mel Brooks made the second greatest western ever.  If you look at the elements that make up a western, this one has them all, and then some.  The hilarity of this movie is what moved it up the list but all westerns have some sort of tongue in cheek play on the events going on.  The inside jokes and jabs at Hollywood are more relevant if you knew the times and those they were poking fun at but it still stands the test of time, remaining a movie I will watch if it is on.  

1. Unforgiven

This is what I watched tonight and will probably watch again a couple more times this year.  I love this movie.  It is dark, in your face, and real.  It makes you feel like you could be living in the times of Big Whiskey, Wyoming and amongst a town where if you are not in the sheriff's circle, you should probably not be there at all.  Every actor gives the performance of their career and it only adds to Clint's ability to shoot a beautiful movie.  

Hope you enjoyed my list and insight.  Feel free to comment or rebuke my selections.  I welcome all kinds of healthy debate.  And before you do insist on arguing, please give these titles a shot.  I do not think you will be disappointed.