The golden era of Westerns is far in the past. A good film of this genre is simply a collector’s item. One of these was the film “The True History of the Kelly Gang,” which recently appeared on Megogo and iTunes.
Due to the fact that this film was released online, we monitored the main westerns of the decade to select the best films about brave cowboys, brave sheriffs, sharp shooters and elusive horsemen who are ready to cross any prairie to defend their honor and freedom.
Bone Tomahawk (2015)
Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Richard Jenkins, Matthew Fox and other recognizable faces appeared in 2015 in a completely unexpected film, then little-known director S. Craig Zahler, “Bone Tomahawk.” It was a Western, masterfully shot in just 21 days and $1.8 million. And not just a Western, but a real horror. According to the plot, the main characters, led by the sheriff (Russell), go to rescue a nurse, a wounded criminal and a young sheriff’s deputy, who have been captured by mysterious characters. We won’t talk about all the jokers in the plot, because Zahler definitely prepared them for the viewer. A brutal show is guaranteed.
True History of the Kelly Gang (2020)
Not in the mood for horror? How about a post-punk story from the life of Australian bushrangers who fled from British justice, robbed, killed, and became heroes of legends and myths? And the most famous of them is Ned Kelly, even considered by many, although debatable, to be a real hero of Australia.
There are many works of fiction, and even more historical works, written about this era. But the best-selling book by Peter Carey, for which the author won the Booker Prize, stands out in particular. The novel was filmed by visionary director Justin Kurzel, and the role of the adult Ned was superbly played by 1917 star George MacKay. He was accompanied by Russell Crowe, Charlie Hunnam and Nicholas Hoult.
Sisters Brothers (2018)
In the Wild West there lived brothers with the last name “Sisters”, and it would be better not to get in their way. The Western parable of the Frenchman Jacques Audiard is not devoid of dynamic scenes or cruelty, but it also has poetry and even humor. The brothers were played by Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly, and they were accompanied by Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed.
The film took part in the Venice Film Festival, where it received the Silver Lion for Best Director. If you missed this outstanding role by Joaquin Phoenix, make up for it, and every dramatic image of John C. Reilly is always worth its weight in gold.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
The Coen Brothers’ film anthology was also presented at the Venice Film Festival the same year as The Sisters Brothers. Six chapters show the history of the wild region in different ways. “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” tells the story of a sharp-shooting singer. In “Under Algodones,” a bank robber gets what he wanted and then some. Admission by Meal is a dark story about two tired, traveling artists. All Gold Canyon is the story of a prospector digging for gold.
“The Girl Who Was Scared” is a lyrical story about unexpected love with an even more unexpected ending in the spirit of the Coen brothers. And finally, the sixth chapter is “Remains” – a philosophical parable about a motley group of strangers traveling on a stagecoach. Among the actors in the film almanac are James Franco, Liam Neeson, Brendan Gleeson and musician Tom Waits.
Shooter (2014)
The shortest and funniest Western you might have missed. A short film (up to 10 minutes), which with just one trick was able to qualitatively and very ironically go through all the cliches of the classical genre. Director Eric Kissack and screenwriter Kevin Tenglin introduced a new full-fledged participant in the action – the voice-over narrator.