Genre: Westerns
Rating: R
Release Date: 8-SEP-2009
Media Type: Blu-RayDirector Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead) tries gamely to recapture the exotic mysteries of spaghetti Westerns in this stylish but empty film, which stars Sharon Stone as a stranger who comes to the town of Redemption in time for an annual shooting contest. Her real motivations for being there are the stuff that might have found their way into a film by Sergio Leone–in fact, much of this film is a pastiche of Leone’s greatest hits, including A Fistful of Dollars and Once upon a Time in America–but one can’t quite believe Stone in the role. Gene Hackman gives a predictably solid performance as the town tyrant, and Leonardo DiCaprio is good as a lucky young gunslinger who gets to kiss the heroine. But not even the cast can help this failed project. Raimi brings a lot of razzle-dazzle to his camera work, but it doesn’t make the film any more substantial. –Tom Keogh
Buy “The Quick and the Dead “ For Only $9.93
March 23, 2006
#1
I don’t write many reviews, and only a few are negative. But I feel compelled to spill my guts on this “movie”. In one word, “AWFUL!”.
My wife wanted to see Russell Crowe (what’s he got that I don’t?). Crowe’s performance was excellent even though the movie sucked. (He’s done some great movies and some terrible ones such as this, but his acting is consistently very good.)
At first I thought “..the Dead” was a satire or parody. Unfortunately it was neither. It was contrived and not believeable (not a fantasy either). The acting was terrible except for Crowe and to a lesser extent for Hackman. The story had no substance, and the drama and suspense were as deep as Jacques Cousteau diving in a wading pool.
Sharon Stone was terrible. (Did she finance this film? It’s the only explanation I can think of.)
Even the costuming was comical. In this dirty, dusty, (and muddy) town some of the attire looked like it came straight off the rack from Saks. How Sharon got so many clothes on the back of her horse is beyond me!
A leading actor or actress should have at least some quality going for her such as being attractive, strong, sympathetic, mean, intelligent, witty, sexy, ugly, weak, stupid, intriging, something, anything!; Sharon Stone had none in this movie. Off the top of my head, Sigourney Weaver, a young Sophia Loren or Marilyn Monroe, or even Rosie O’Donnell or Hillary Clinton would be better personalities for the Sharon character.
Hackman was good, but every time he spoke I couldn’t help but think of the villian and comical character Lex Luther (from Superman). The dialogue was very similar. His character was contrived and shallow.
DiCaprio was ok given his part, but what’s a prissy, GQ, preppy sort of guy, with a perfect complexion doing being the son of of the bad guy in a dirty little town where the average person bathes maybe once a year? And yet despite their relationship, there was no chemistry and little dialogue between them. Casting DiCaprio in this part is like casting Michael Jackson to play Kobe Byrant in a non-comedy.
I could go on and on, but I’ll conclude with two other comments. The scenes look like they’re done on a set, and just one set at that. And if there are any “special effects”, I must have missed them – except for Hackman doing a backflip!
Oh My, What a Terrible Movie!
March 23, 2006
#2
The real premise of this movie is: only women have any remorse over murder (but they can get over it), and only good dental hygiene stands a chance of keeping you from violent death. A thoughtless, gratuitously violent movie that unsuccessfully recycles Hackman’s great turn in Unforgiven and leaves DiCaprio’s undeniable charm and brightness flapping in the void of Sharon Stone’s vapid presence. Fans of this film: raise your standards!
March 23, 2006
#3
Frankly, I have certain reservations about the postmodern (name your “pasta”) western and yet I enjoyed this film which has an outstanding cast, featuring Sharon Stone (Ellen), Gene Hackman (Herod), Russell Crowe (Reverend Cort), and Leonardo DiCaprio (the Kid). The supporting cast includes Gary Sinise (Marshall) and Pat Hingle (Horace the bartender). Herod is the corrupt mayor of Redemption (I’m not making this up) who has organized a quick-draw competition for gunfighters. Ego and greed motivate most of the contestants. Ellen is motivated by revenge. Once an associate of Herod’s, Cort is a pacifist and refuses to participate. (Of course, he’s also renowned as the quickest draw.) Through a process of deadly elimination, two “finalists” will soon face each other in the streets, probably without hope of redemption, and then….
As directed by Sam Raimi, my only significant criticism of this film is that we learn almost nothing about the background of the major characters prior to their participation in the competition. (Perhaps I have been spoiled by Akira Kurosawa’s The Seven Samurai, John Sturges’ The Magnificent Seven, and more recently, Jeff Blitz’s Spellbound.) The Kid is a case in point. Whose son is he? (Herod’s?) Raimi raises even more questions about Cort. For example, is he really a clergyman or merely assuming the identity of one such as Robert Mitchum’s character in The Night of the Hunter or Clint Eastwood’s in Pale Rider? At this point, I ask “What difference does it make?” So I settle back with some refreshments and stop analyzing the film. (My wife would claim “over-analyzing” it.) It is what is so I enjoy it for that rather than rattle on about what it is not. Roll it!
March 23, 2006
#4
The Quick And The Dead is my favourite film of all time. It is a classic film, with an amazing narrative and an incredible cast. Sharon Stone is fantastic in it.
March 23, 2006
#5
This has to be THE WORST western movie ever. I do believe the actors that appeared in this movie did it just to have the chance to work together, because honestly I can’t find a logical reason why someone like Gene Hackman would actually appear in such a ridiculous flick. Follow my advice on this one DO NOT BUY!