Westember Day 30: True Grit (2010)

 
     On this, the final day of Westember, we will look at the Coen brother's True Grit (2010).

     Interestingly, this is the only film in the entire series that was released in my lifetime! I have read the book and watched the John Wayne version of True Grit as well. I'm not honestly sure which version I prefer as they all have strengths and weaknesses.

     Thanks for following along everyone! Now it's back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Westember Day 29: Tombstone (1993)

     Today's western is Tombstone (1993).

     Though not a perfect film by any means I love how it pays tribute to older westerns, and it's generally a ton of fun. It's one of the few really successful attempts to make a western blockbuster. I reviewed Kevin Costner's Wyatt Earp back in 2017, which provides an interesting contrast to Tombstone if anyone's interested.

     Tomorrow I will conclude Westember with one of my favorite films from the past decade...

Westember Day 28: Unforgiven (1992)

     Today's western is Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven (1992).

     I wrote a glowing review of this film last year if anyone's interested in reading it.

     Tomorrow's western is more of a crowd-pleaser...

Westember Day 27: The 1980's, Lonesome Dove and Dances with Wolves

     First off today we have a brief video covering the western genre in the 1980's.

     I should really do full blown reviews of both the Lonesome Dove novel and miniseries some day as I love them both but for now this will have to do.

     Secondly, a video on Dances with Wolves (1990).

     This film has grown on me a lot over time. I have always felt that the climax was a little contrived and have mixed feelings on it's portrayal of white/Indian relations but over all I think it's great.

     Tomorrow we look at another best picture winner from the 1990's...

Westember Day 26: The Shootist (1976)

     Today we look at John Wayne's last film, The Shootist (1976)

     It's really bittersweet watching this film knowing how Wayne died a few years later. That this just happened to be his last role seems strangely providential.

     Tomorrow we leap forward nearly 15 years to look at a western that set off a short lived revival of the genre in the 1990's...

Westember Day 25: The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

     Today's western is Clint Eastwood's The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976).

     One of my favorite films, I reviewed The Outlaw Josey Wales back in 2016 if anyone wants to hear my in depth thoughts.

     Tomorrow we will look at another western from 1976...

Westember Day 24: Blazing Saddles (1973)

Late again...

     Yesterday's western was Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles.

 
     I reviewed this film a few years ago if anyone wants to hear my in-depth thoughts.

     Later today we'll look at another of my personal favorites...

Westember Day 23: McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971)

     Today's western is Robert Altman's McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971).
(WARNING: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS)
I left timestamps on a comment on the video so they can be skipped over (just follow the link).

   
     This is one of the few films I hadn't seen before doing this project and I really liked it. I generally prefer more classic westerns to their subversive brethren, so the fact that I liked it as much as I did speaks to the talent of director Altman (who I am familiar with via his work on 60's television series Combat!).

     Tomorrow we will look at a western that is subversive in a completely different way.

Westember Day 22: They Call Me Trinity (1970)

     In today's video I look at Enzo Barboni's They Call Me Trinity (1970).

     The climatic fist-fight from the end of this film was reportedly inspired by the dance sequence from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) which I reviewed a few years back.

     Tomorrow's film is a much more bleak and subversive western...

Westember Day 21: The Wild Bunch (1969)

     Today's western is Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch (1969).

     This film is incredibly nihilistic, which is usually a turn-off for me, but it contains a certain spark of humanity that I find rousing. As a fan of Hong-Kong action pictures (particularly the "Romantic Bloodshed" films popularized by John Woo) I appreciate this films portrayal of violence, even if it's troubling at times.

Tomorrow we'll look at a much more lighthearted western.

Westember Day 20: Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

     Today's western is Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West (1968).

     This is a film that's grown on me a lot since I first viewed it. I reviewed it last year for it's 50th anniversary if anyone wants a more detailed analysis.

     For all of it's subversion Once Upon a Time in the West is essentially a love letter to classic westerns. Tomorrow we return to the U.S. to look at a film that attempted to blow that classical conception to bits...

Westember Day 19: A Bullet for the General (1966)

Well I guess I'm late again...

     Today we look at A Bullet for the General (1966).

     The director, Damiano Damiani, would later helm A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe (1975), the sequel to the classic My Name is Nobody (1973).

     Later today we'll look at what is possibly Sergio Leone's masterwork...

Westember Day 18: Django (1966)

     Today's film is Sergio Corbucci's Django (1966).

     A messy film at times, Django is held together by Franco Nero's lead performance, Corbucci's stylish direction and the film's unique visuals. I reviewed another Corbucci western, Navajo Joe (1966), a few years back.

Tomorrow we look at yet another Spaghetti western...

Westember Day 17: A Fistful of Dollars (1964)

     Today's film, A Fistful of Dollars (1964), kick-started the Spaghetti western genre, along with the careers of Clint Eastwood, Sergio Leone and Ennio Morricone. 

     A Fistful of Dollars is my favorite spaghetti western other than The Good, The Bad and the Ugly (1966). It may be more simplistic then some of Leone's later work but he never made a more entertaining film. 

Tomorrow's film is another wildly successful spaghetti western...

Westember Day 16: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

     Today we look at another John Ford masterpiece, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962).

     This film is more restrained then much of Ford's other work and may be his tightest film. In some ways it really feels like the culmination of all his earlier work, questioning and reaffirming the core ideas of the genre.

     Tomorrow, a film that looks at the genre from the outside in. 

Westember Day 15: Rio Bravo (1959)

Sorry this is late again...

     Today's western is yet another of my favorite films, Howard Hawks Rio Bravo (1959).

     This is one of those movies that I like more and more every time I see it (and I never tire of watching it). It has, maybe, my favorite screenplay out of any western movie.

     Later today we will look at John Ford's last great western...

Westember Day 14: The Searchers (1956)

     Today we look at my favorite western from my favorite director (perhaps my favorite film of all time), John Ford's The Searchers (1956).

     One of these days I would like to watch and review all of John Ford's films (I did review Just Pals, with Buck Jones, not long ago).

     Tomorrow, another John Wayne classic...

Westember Day 13: Seven Men from Now (1956)

 

     Today's western in Budd Boetticher's Seven Men from Now, the first film in the Ranown cycle (a six film collaboration between Boetticher and Randolph Scott).

     I like this film more every time I see it. I'll have to get around to reviewing it (and the other Ranown films, which I have yet to see) some time.

     Tomorrow's film is, perhaps, the most highly acclaimed western ever made...

Westember Day 12: Johnny Guitar (1954)

     Well, I'm a day late and a dollar short but I still made it...

     The director of Johnny Guitar is Nicholas Ray, who also directed King of Kings which I reviewed some years ago.

     Stay tuned for the video I uploaded today, covering a much more conventional but no less creative western...

Westember Day 11: Shane (1953)

 

     Today's film is Shane, yet another personal favorite of mine. Based on the popular novel by Jack Schaefer, George Stevens' film attempts to mythologize the western hero.

     Tomorrow we will look at a somewhat more obscure and subversive western...

Westember Day 10: High Noon (1952)

 

     Today's film is another personal favorite of mine (and of many others) Fred Zinnemann's  High Noon (1952).

     Zinnemann aslo directed A Man for All Seasons (1966), another personal favorite which I reviewed during Lent. Like High Noon that film features a protagonist who is abandoned for following his conscience.

     Tomorrow we will look at a far more traditional western...

Westember Day 9: Winchester 73' (1950)

 

Today we look at one of my favorite westerns, Anthony Mann's Winchester 73'.

I reviewed another Mann/Stewart western, The Far Country back in 2017.

Tomorrow I'll cover one of the most highly acclaimed (and controversial) westerns ever made...

Westember Day 8

Today we have two videos once again.

First of all a brief history of the western on TV and the end of the series western.

Secondly Broken Arrow (1950), one of the most successful westerns of the 1950's and one of the most sympathetic portrayals of American Indians onscreen.

For more detailed thoughts on Broken Arrow see my review from last year.

Tomorrow another Jimmy Stewart western...

Westember Day 7: Fort Apache (1948)

 

Today's western is Fort Apache (1948), the first film in John Ford's Cavalry Trilogy.

One of Ford's best films (in my opinion) it's the first of his westerns to take a critical look at white/Indian relations. I love it for Ford's sentimental look at cavalry life.

Tomorrow we look at the emergence of television as the genre entered the 1950's...

Westember Day 6: Pursued (1947)

Today we tackle Raoul Walsh's Pursued and the noir/western subgenre.

A few years ago I reviewed another noir infused western, Forty Guns (1957).

Tomorrow, another John Ford classic...

Westember Day 5: The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)

 

Today I examine perhaps the bleakest western ever made.

     The Ox-Bow Incident is driven by a riveting script from Lamar Trotti and powerhouse performances from Henry Fonda, Henry Morgan, Dana Andrews, and Harry Davenport. A young Anthony Quinn is also featured in a memorable supporting role.

Westember Day 4: Jesse James (1939)

 

Today we look at Jesse James (1939), a film that beat Stagecoach at the box office.

Check out my review from earlier this year if you want some more in depth thoughts.

Westember Day 3: Stagecoach (1939)

      Today I covered Stagecoach, one of my favorite films ever from my favorite director, John Ford.

     I feel pretty confident in saying that Stagecoach is the most influential western ever made. Though the genre existed before Stagecoach it would never be the same afterward. I might even argue that it's the greatest movie ever made, in any genre. It's influence on film-making is pervasive, with everyone from Orson Welles to Steven Spielberg citing it as an inspiration.

Tomorrow will look at another western from 1939, one that, at the time, had an even bigger impact...

Westember Day 2

Once again there are two videos today (this will not be the norm).

     First off an interlude of sorts about series westerns (sometimes called B-Westerns) and specifically Tom Mix. I originally intended to include some specific films from this sub-genre but ultimately decided that it was more important collectively then any one film was individually. Honestly I could do a whole other series just talking about series westerns.

     Secondly a video about The Covered Wagon (1923), arguably the first really "epic" western.

     Tomorrow we'll look at one of the greatest westerns (and indeed one of the greatest movies) ever made. 

Westember Day 1

Here's the first round of videos for the Westember series I announced last week.

Introduction:

Hell's Hinges (1916):

For more on Hell's Hinges see my review from earlier this year.