Cowboys and Aliens (2011)
"Cowboys and Aliens" is the perfect conflation of disparate genres. We went to this movie thinking it would be silly, and wondering why such big names would consent to be part of what seemed to be pure gimmick. We can now report that not only does the picture take its ideas seriously, but it actually makes them work. This is far from a silly film, and it is satisfactory on many levels... it's both good science fiction, and one of the purest westerns we've see in some time.
The story is essentially an amalgam of the best Hollywood western traditions. Think "The Magnificent Seven," "The Searchers," and any number of Clint Eastwood movies. Remember those films where the isolated town is threatened by an overwhelming band of bloodthirsty marauders, only to find themselves banding together behind the courage and leadership of one lone hero with the grit, brains, and marksmanship to make a stand and unite opposing elements of the population against a common enemy. Only in this case, the cruel oppressors are from outer space, and they ride the range in fast flying spaceships with a distinctly insect-like appearance.
Daniel Craig is the iconic lone hero who wakes up lying half-dazed on the floor of a desert canyon. He is barefoot, confused, totally lacking any recent memory, and with a strange wound in his side (bullet or laser? - the first of many mysteries). For instance, what is that weird high-tech piece of hardware fitted like a shackle to his wrist, that he can't seem to remove? In a scintillating opening scene, his quick reflexes and fighting skills supply him with a horse, a pair of boots, some clothes, and a dog... and off he rides to the nearby town of Absolution. There he encounters a number of stock western characters, all of them a played with a new edge by an amazing cast: Harrison Ford is the rich man who seems to have the town in a grip, Paul Dano is his troublemaking son and Adam Beach, the Indian sidekick, whose job it is to keep an eye on the rabble-rousing son. Keith Carradine is superb as the beleaguered sheriff, Sam Rockwell is the saloon-keeper... throw in a group of outlaws, a band of Indians, a wise preacher, a boy, the afore-mentioned dog and a mysterious lady with a six-shooter hung around her waist. A great plot develops when the Craig character, in a confrontation with the town bully, seems to emerge a hero. But soon the local sheriff sees the mysterious stranger's face on a wanted poster in his office, so he prepares to ship the "hero" and the "bully" off to Santa Fe in a prison coach for justice. Suddenly the plot is kicked into hyper-drive by the nighttime arrival of a trio of small spaceships that wreak havoc on the isolated village with ray guns, pulsating lights, and explosions. As they zoom and soar, several of the townspeople are yanked right up into the air. What are we witnessing here, alien abductions?
After our hero brings down one of the ships with a blast from the strange metal wristband he's wearing, we get our first glimpse of the frightening extraterrestrial invaders (they prove to be a gruesome lot) and they bound and and pounce with unearthly speed. We soon learn that our hero has an obvious hidden connection to them. Quickly a posse is formed to pursue the other flying spacecraft into the desert, to find and retrieve the kidnapped loved ones. Meanwhile the mysterious lady who also seems to have some knowledge of the invaders invites herself along.
Out among the badlands and mesas, the story explodes into the epic confrontation promised in the film's title, and a grand saga it is... the good, the bad and the alien ugly! Director Jon Favreau had fashioned an entertaining and epic tale that is fantastic, yet told in realistic terms. The bizarre concept is sold with masterful special effects, great acting, and enough action to fill two movies. There's also humor to temper the mix, but the movie is never silly or campy. In fact some of the dramatic story elements are surprisingly touching, and the suspense equally effective. "Cowboys and Aliens" is great entertainment and manages to link flawlessly two of the greatest strands of film history. Actually this has been done before as fans of Joss Whedon's "Firefly" TV series can attest. Don't be afraid of this one; it's not meant to insult you, and it just might be the one to unexpectedly delight you - one of the best among this summer's crop of fine films.
