The western that ended all westerns or at least dramatically changed them. After a long period of great westerns by true masters of cinema like Ford, Hawks, and Griffith came the film that broke the mold which could never be returned to its original glory. Cowboys like John Wayne had outlived their time and had to face a new west with emerging industrialized cities. The Wild Bunch were the last remnants of men who could settle matters with a gun and take what they want before the law and the railroad took over.
What makes this film so lasting and great is that the phenomenal ending doesn't overshadow the rest of the film. A feat which even emerging classics like "Barton Fink" and "Magnolia" can't pull-off as I find myself waiting for the one outstanding scene in each of them. But with "The Wild Bunch" there's not a single scene I don't enjoy watching. It opens with one bloody episode and ends with another. One act of appalling sin and another of beautiful redemption. Never have four words evoked such a variety of emotions in me as "Let's go," "Why not?" accompanied by the delighted smile on Borgnine's face.
This film has it all, great actors, great director, great writing with real character development, symbolism all wrapped into a nice package that delivers. There's not a thing I'd change about this film. It's truly one of the greatest films of all time.
What makes this film so lasting and great is that the phenomenal ending doesn't overshadow the rest of the film. A feat which even emerging classics like "Barton Fink" and "Magnolia" can't pull-off as I find myself waiting for the one outstanding scene in each of them. But with "The Wild Bunch" there's not a single scene I don't enjoy watching. It opens with one bloody episode and ends with another. One act of appalling sin and another of beautiful redemption. Never have four words evoked such a variety of emotions in me as "Let's go," "Why not?" accompanied by the delighted smile on Borgnine's face.
This film has it all, great actors, great director, great writing with real character development, symbolism all wrapped into a nice package that delivers. There's not a thing I'd change about this film. It's truly one of the greatest films of all time.
