The Quick and the Dead

Starring: Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe, Leonardo DiCaprio, Gary Sinise, Lance Heriksen, Tobin Bell, Pat Hingle, Keith David
Directed by: Sam Raimi
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Thriller, Western
1995

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A female gunfighter (Sharon Stone) is determined to get revenge on the man (Gene Hackman) who murdered her father and sees her opportunity during a gunfighter tournament in a small dusty town.

Review:

Tim: Sometimes, the Western genre gets a bad rap, because the movies all feel very similar. You have the good guys, the bad guys, gunfights ensue, and the good guys win in the end. Some people make the assumption that all Westerns are the same. While many elements are consistent in the majority of Westerns, a film like The Quick and the Dead proves that even within consistent themes, there can be a great deal of variety. I've seen a lot of Westerns in my life, but never one quite like this movie.

I'm not sure who came up with the idea for a Gunfighter Tournament, but I absolutely love the idea. The traditional Western showdown might be a bit played out, but there is very little more exciting than seeing two competitors facing each other down in the middle of the street, guns at their sides, knowing that only one will still be standing in a few moments' time. That is inherently exciting and thrilling. This film takes that idea and turns it into a single-elimination tournament where the winners walk away with their lives and the losers most often don't. That's an incredibly cool idea, and I had to keep pinching myself because I couldn't believe a movie pursued that route. That's one of the biggest highlights about this movie.

Now, the movie takes this one step further by delivering an exceptional cast. The gunfight showdown is even more exciting when you're familiar with both actors. That happens numerous times here. I love the idea of making our protagonist a woman- that's a bit unconventional for Westerns, especially one all about gunfighters. Sharon Stone does a very good job in the lead role. I thought she carried the movie well and had me rooting for her. Gene Hackman makes a very good villain and it was great fun seeing him chew scenery with glee. He was a great antagonist. Russell Crowe delivers a subtle but powerful performance. His character was incredibly cool and he worked well with Stone. Leonardo DiCaprio stole several scenes and showcased his talent, more than holding his own against a slew of great actors. He was fun to watch in this movie. The rest of the supporting cast was incredible. I loved seeing Gary Sinise, even though it was only for a thankless, short role. Lance Henriksen, Tobin Bell, and Keith David all added a good deal to the cast, and I always enjoy seeing Pat Hingle. The cast in this film is simply fantastic and it's one of the movie's greatest strengths.

Sam Raimi is a very good director, and he crafts a solid movie here. The film is 107 minutes and it moves really, really quickly. I don't believe there are any necessary lulls. The movie is very intense, exciting, and great fun to watch. I thought Raimi did a good job of working within the confines of the genre, but gleefully turning things up on their heads when required. While the movie does become a bit predictable towards the end (and a little farfetched), it still keeps you guessing, especially early on.

While The Quick and the Dead might not quite do enough to be considered great, it's still a film that is absolutely worth seeing. If you think about it, the gunfight showdown is typically the most exciting, memorable part of a Western. This movie takes that idea and delivers gunfight after gunfight, pitting famous actors against each other in increasingly tense, suspenseful battles. That's an incredible idea, and it's no wonder this film feels so fresh and exciting. I thoroughly enjoyed this rousing Western and I would highly recommend it.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



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