#186. The Wild Bunch

“We all dream of being a child again, even the worst of us. Perhaps the worst most of all.”

A group of nine aging outlaws battle a Mexican army and a gang of bounty hunters in pursuit of one last big win in the Wild West.

I’ll start with what I enjoyed about this film — the beginning and the end, as well as the much too subtle (in my view) fear of aging theme. The way it began and ended was captivating, and without giving too much away, likely transformed the Old West genre from that point forward. As far as the theme — really moving. I’ve always been under the impression that westerns were more about the plot and non-stop action, so I respect that this film held something deeper for the viewer to contemplate.

That being said, I didn’t exactly enjoy this movie as a whole. The beginning and the end don’t account for the two hour middle portion that was chock-full of unnecessary long scenes, unlikable as well as unmemorable characters, and oddly placed laughing sequences. Not to mention, I was disgusted by its portrayal of women. I recognize that it was accurately depicting how women were viewed during that time, but every female character was without a personality/brain, and seemed to mindlessly and happily accept her role as a man’s plaything. That’s an archaic perspective, even for a movie filmed nearly 50 years ago.

I have a soft spot in my heart for westerns since my late grandfather loved them, and I’m disappointed that I can’t fully appreciate The Wild Bunch like so many other people, but it just wasn’t for me. Nevertheless, I still have high hopes for The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly and am looking forward to reaching it further up on the list.

Characters: 5/10
Acting: 7.3/10
Storyline: 6.5/10
Entertainment Value: 5/10
Immediate Rating: 6.4/10

Total Score: 30.2/50

#187. Kind Hearts and Coronets

“I made an oath that I would revenge the wrongs her family had done her. It was no more than a piece of youthful bravado, but it was one of those acorns from which great oaks are destined to grow. Even then I went so far as to examine the family tree and prune it to just the living members. But what could I do to hurt them? What could I take from them, except, perhaps, their lives?”

An impoverished, distant relative of the Duke of D'Ascoyne aims to take revenge on the family who’s disregarded him and acquire their wealth by murdering the eight inheritors that stand in his way of the throne.

The first time I watched this movie was years ago. For some reason or another, I didn’t fully appreciate it then, and deemed the plot boring. I’m so glad that I decided to watch it a second time (with subtitles and a film-schooled boyfriend), because it completely changed my mind.

What acting, humor, and fantastic dialogue! And now the plot may even be my favorite aspect. There are so many unexpected, exciting twists in the storyline, and interesting characters to carry it through. One pivotal element I overlooked upon first viewing was the fact that Alec Guinness flawlessly plays the entire D'Ascoyne Family, characters young and old, male and female. Not to mention, the makeup and acting was fantastic, because I didn’t even realize this until the end credits.

The subtle humor of this movie is one of a kind. Louis’ (played by Dennis Price) calm demeanor coupled with his vindictiveness, as well as irony in the plot twists make it a delight to watch. My immediate rating is a 8/10.

Characters: 8/10
Acting: 8.2/10
Storyline: 8.3/10
Entertainment Value: 8/10
Immediate Rating: 8/10

Total Score: 40.5/50