In a Valley of Violence (2016)

good back-story, and good acting

Don't Believe the Hype

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

There's a reason why you've never heard of this movie despite it starring four notable Hollywood names. Just so bad and nonsensical. Only reason I gave it three stars was cuz i'm a sucker for westerns...it deserves about 1.5. Actually, probably less given the limited action in the action scenes...

Vastly overwritten - one of the hazards of a writer/director - and, in this case - editor, too. Oh dear... With three individuals with three different perspective, it could have been rather better.The score by Jeff Grace, although excellent in places, doesn't know if it wants to be a western or a spaghetti western (overtly Morricone) and gives conflicting messages. The movie is not quite a spaghetti western although, with a few tweaks, it could have been. Some of the scenes with SW music cues play against the on-screen action and invite a sardonic comedy perspective which isn't really justified.Some scenes are comedic although more in the style of slapstick than dark SW humour and, really, not needed.As the movie progresses, the music becomes increasingly SW and the theme of revenge - one of my absolute favourites! - comes well to the fore.But who ever heard of a 'man with no name' called Paul? Oh dear... And the town only seems to have eight inhabitants.Ethan Hawke is excellent but not quite Clint. John Travolta has lost some weight and must be desperate for parts although perhaps the script looked better than the end result.Star of the show, apart from the dog, is Taissa Farmiga who has a wonderful part and plays it well.In all, this is a nice, easy-to-watch action western. Switch off all critical facilities (and tell me how to do that!) and you'll enjoy it, but it falls needlessly short of being really great.

In a Valley of Violence is written and directed by Ti West. It stars Ethan Hawke, Taissa Farmiga, James Ransome, Karen Gillan and John Travolta. Music is by Jeff Grace and cinematography by Eric Robbins.Ethan Hawke plays Paul, an ex soldier accompanied only by his dog, Abbie, who is drifting across the desert towards Mexico. Stopping off in the dying town of Denton, Paul finds trouble that will have consequences for himself and town alike.Ti West is more well known for his horror ventures, where although divisive in that genre sphere, he can be proud of his success rate. Here he tackles the Western, and true to form, he homages past genre masters whilst unmistakably putting his own stamp on things. Opening with credits straight out of Spaghetti Western land, and introducing us to a musical score that will accompany the story that is wonderfully feverish, West is in no hurry for blood and bone shenanigans. He always favours the slow burn and so it proves here.There's nothing remotely new here, it's a standard tale of a gunman - one damaged by his war efforts - who through circumstance is forced to abandon his hope of a quiet life. He's a loner man of few words, thus giving viewers a classic Western character staple, an anti-hero to root for and for us to yearn for him to find peace. When the violence comes, it's sharp and bloody, but often there is humour as well, deftly inserted into proceedings, whilst the canine is skillful and a key character to all and sundry.Perfs are more than adequate. Hawke sifts seamlessly into being a believable drifter type of complexity, Ransome is annoyingly brattish, but that's actually job well done, and Travolta - sporting a wooden leg - gets better once (and if) you buy into him in this setting. Gillan isn't given much to do, but lands some decent emotive punches, but it's Farmiga who stands out as Mary-Anne. She's utterly infectious and thankfully she gets a well written part, that of a young woman trying to hold her own in the most trying of township circumstance.The purpose built town of Denton looks just that!, but this is off- set a touch by the nice location landscapes (Santa Fe, New Mexico), and with the story working from solid genre foundations then this is a pleasure - without pulling up any trees - for fans of such. 7/10

The half half has some promise.It just gets a little boring after awhile.There's little character development from the main character. The act of revenge and execution is not stylish enough. And the jokes are not funny enough and seem in odd places. I can see that is a very low budget movie with so few extras in the town.3/10.