The Magnificent Seven (MA 15+)
Starring: Chris Pratt, Matt Bomer, Denzel Washington
A STAR cast and a moustache twirling bad guy are the highlights of this re-telling of the classic Western, or the brilliant Seven Samurai – but if you are looking for something deep, meaningful or even something destined to be a classic, then don’t look here.
This is a popcorn movie with a basic plot and most of the usual Western tropes.
With a body count Shakespeare would be proud of (or perhaps would find excessive) director Antoine Fuqua’s “modern vision” of the classic story has more in common with the misfit ensemble group movies Avengers and Suicide Squad than the original source material.
With the town of Rose Creek under the deadly control of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard) the desperate townspeople employ protection from seven outlaws, bounty hunters, gamblers and hired guns.
As they prepare the town for the violent showdown that they know is coming, these seven mercenaries find themselves fighting for more than money.
In a cast as racially diverse as it possibly could be, Denzel Washington stars as the head of the gang. However while he looks great unfortunately Fuqua doesn’t make enough of this talented actor with his character, the strong silent type, letting action speak more than words.
Chris Pratt has a little more to do though it’s Ethan Hawke that really stands out as a former solider with post-traumatic stress disorder and Vincent D’Onofrio is a lot of fun.
This is more hollywood blockbuster than classic Western, but it’s worth seeing if only for some of the key performances.
– Tania Phillips
