Top 20 Modern Westerns
#20: “Logan” (2017)
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We’ll admit that this probably isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when thinking of westerns but the elements are there. Director James Mangold has cited “Shane”, “The Cowboys” and “Unforgiven” as influences. “Logan” serves as a fitting conclusion to Wolverine's arc in the 20th Century Fox series of X-Men films. The western conventions employed really help to elevate the story beyond your basic superhero film where we find Logan coming to the end of the line as his healing factor begins to decline. It got high praise from critics for Hugh Jackman’s performance as the titular character and its inclusion of darker elements into the film, pushing the boundaries of what a superhero movie can be.
#19: “Back to the Future Part III” (1990)
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Obviously nothing compares to “Back to the Future”, but that film isn’t a western. Thankfully, the third installment of the franchise is one and reaches all the way back to 1885 to continue the story of Doc Brown and Marty McFly. It features some recurring gags from the previous films and gives us more details of the residents of Hill Valley while at the same time playing with the tropes of the western genre.The addition of Mary Steenburgen as Clara Clayton is a wonderful addition as her relationship with Doc Brown gives the film good bits of comedy along with heart. “Part III” gives a satisfying conclusion to the series that’s worth checking out.
#18: “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” (2018)
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Western movies definitely appeal to the Coen brothers as they have previously visited the genre with “True Grit” and “No Country for Old Men”. “Buster Scruggs” features an ensemble cast with the likes of Tim Blake Nelson, Liam Neeson, James Franco and Tom Waits. What sets this film apart from others is it’s an anthology film with six vignettes, each detailing life on the western frontier. Critically, it was well received and each segment is full of the Coens’ typical approach to storytelling while causing us to question the American mythos audiences are accustomed to from various forms of media.
#17: “Meek’s Cutoff” (2010)
A small group of settlers travel across the Oregon trail in search of new opportunities but things start to go awry when the two week long journey stretches out to five. Understandably tension amongst the group starts to rise as supplies dwindle and realization sets in that they might be lost. Director Kelly Reichardt is one the women present in the western genre who uses the film to examine power dynamics between its characters while also focusing on marginalized groups of people. “Meek’s Cutoff” shouldn’t be overlooked as it gives a great sense of how terrifying travel in the frontier can be.
#16: “The Proposition” (2005)
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Most westerns are thought of as American and come from Hollywood but “The Proposition” puts an Australian twist on the genre. A story of revenge, the film is not shy to show the brutality of Australia in the late 19th century. Critics praised the acting of Guy Pearce, Ray Winstone and Danny Huston. Often an issue in western films is how indigenous cultures are portrayed but here great pains were taken by the cast and crew to accurately reflect cultural customs prevalent during the movie’s setting. It may not be your typical western but it’s definitely worth your consideration.
#15: “Maverick” (1994)
This film, based on the TV series of the same name, puts a comedic spin on the western genre and stars Mel Gibson in the titular role. Maverick, a con artist, enters a poker tournament looking to take home the big prize. Of course, since this is a comedy, the film pokes fun at some of the conventions of westerns. It’s worth watching just for the cameos alone as there are many western actors and country music singers pop up. Danny Glover even shows up as a nod to him and Mel Gibson co-starring in the “Lethal Weapon” franchise.
#14: “Appaloosa” (2008)
The town of Appaloosa is under attack from the ruthless rancher Randall Bragg. Lawman Virgil Cole and deputy Everett Hitch are brought in to restore peace and order. Of course, this is no easy task as Bragg and his men will not just give in. Ed Harris pulls off multiple roles here as director, writer, producer and stars as Cole. The film was noted at its release for its earnestness in storytelling as a revisionist western making it stand out from other films of that subgenre. Critics were captivated by the dynamic between Cole and Hitch as they are wonderful compliments to each other.
#13: “Open Range” (2003)
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Directed by Kevin Costner, “Open Range” features a straightforward story centered around property rights as cattleman Boss Spearman along with hired hand Charley battle against rancher Denton Baxter over an open range. The film was praised for the chemistry between Costner as Charley and Robert Duvall as Spearman. It also stands out for its intense gun battles which have been noted for their realism with the final shootout being of particular note. Especially since stylistic gunfights at the time of the movie’s release were heavily influenced by “The Matrix”.
#12: “Bone Tomahawk” (2015)
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The premise of this film is fairly straightforward but it would be a mistake to think it’s boring. S. Craig Zahler’s directorial debut features a ragtag group on a rescue mission. The movie takes its time with its journey allowing us to to get to know the characters with its minimalist approach. This serves to really hit home some of the more shocking moments during the film’s third act which we won’t spoil here but is pretty gruesome. “Bone Tomahawk” received high praise for its acting, especially from Kurt Russell and Matthew Fox. It delivers an excellent mix of horror, comedy and gore giving a fresh perspective on the western genre.
#11: “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” (2007)
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He’s one of the most notorious outlaws America has ever seen, but it took an Australian director to provide a psychological portrait that made moviegoers see Jesse James in a new light. Arguably one of the most underrated films of modern times, Andrew Dominik’s character study produced jaw-dropping cinematography courtesy of the master Roger Deakins. While Brad Pitt brought his usual coolness to the lead role, it was Casey Affleck’s performance as the coward Robert Ford that pushed this modern western to the next level, albeit in a rather disturbing way.
#10: “The Quick and the Dead” (1995)
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Once upon a time in Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns, Clint Eastwood played a vengeful “Man with No Name.” This Sam Raimi production followed suit, but with a gender reversal featuring a sharpshooting woman known as “The Lady.” Brandishing Colt Peacemakers, Sharon Stone showed a few shooting techniques to a young Leonardo DiCaprio in a movie that also features Russell Crowe in his American cinema debut. Sure, “The Quick and the Dead” may be campy at times, but Raimi successfully managed to combine classic western themes with his own sense of modern aesthetics.
#9: “Slow West” (2015)
Aesthetically beautiful and finely acted, it only takes a few minutes to recognize the artistry of this modern classic. Directed by musician John Maclean, “Slow West” requires patience from viewers, but the payoff is well worth it. As an entitled Scottish lad travels west to find a lost love, he comes across a few squirrely characters ready to teach a few lessons and a few tricks. With a vibrant palette of colors, stylized direction and enriching performances, “Slow West” has widely been recognized as one of 2015’s best independent films.
#8: “Dead Man” (1995)
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With this black and white surrealistic trip, Jim Jarmusch gave us a western like we’ve never seen before. After all, who doesn’t want to see a reincarnation of poet William Blake on a vision quest? Johnny Depp’s trouble-making character messes around and takes a bullet close to the heart, thus effectively sealing his fate as a dead man walking. But such an injury forces a man to decide if he’s going to get busy dyin’ or get busy livin,’ and the concept of this film worked brilliantly with Jarmusch’s crisp direction.
#7: “The Homesman” (2014)
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This Tommy Lee Jones’ directorial outing will initially leave you unsure how to feel, but that’s often the sign of a great film. Despite a lack of box office success, “The Homesman” has been praised for the ensemble cast led by Hilary Swank, who must guide a group of mentally ill women while coming to grips with her own desperation. With a focus on the female perspective, Tommy Lee Jones offered a new take on the western by addressing the psychological and geographic turmoil that can make one slowly drift away inside of one’s own mind.
#6: “3:10 to Yuma” (2007)
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Based on the 1957 classic, this modern take adhered to classic genre styles with brutal realism. Christian Bale starred as a Civil War veteran hired to deliver Russell Crowe’s murderous outlaw on an afternoon train to the slammer. Any viewer should be advised that there WILL be blood, but in a highly stylized manner perfect for such a genre. With the steady hand of James Mangold directing the action, and acclaimed cinematographer Phedon Papamichael exploring the landscape, “3:10 to Yuma” was a harsh depiction of a rough and deceitful world.
#5: “Tombstone” (1993)
With a backstory steeped in controversy and violence, this film tackled one of the greatest tales of the Old West. Kevin Costner was initially set to collaborate with filmmaker Kevin Jarre on this film; however, fate would lead the actor to work on another Wyatt Earp project, while George P. Cosmatos took over as director. Even so, the casting of Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer worked wonders, as the great Robert Mitchum narrated their story of the law versus outlaws. Plus, the mood and tone make this western a joy to watch.
#4: “Dances with Wolves” (1990)
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This movie was huge and we don’t just mean its nearly three hour theatrical run time. It was the 4th highest grossing film of 1990 and earned 12 Academy Award nominations while taking home seven Oscars. Kevin Costner was praised for his directorial debut that told the story of John Dunbar who is given command of an army outpost in the Dakota plains. He develops a relationship with a neighboring tribe of Sioux. Also notable are large portions of the film that feature dialogue in Lakota. Although it can be criticized for its depiction of indigenous people there’s no doubt that “Dances with Wolves” is a highly influential western in the years since its release.
#3: “Django Unchained” (2012)
Speaking of artistic violence, there’s no better director for that than Quentin Tarantino. For his stylized depiction of the 19th century Deep South, he once again refused to embrace accepted norms. “Django Unchained” featured Jamie Foxx as a slave hoping to reunite with his long-lost wife and also starred Leonardo DiCaprio as the heartless owner of the Candyland plantation. Tarantino’s film was polarizing on many levels, but regardless of your personal opinion on the subject matter, it remains an unforgettable western about the good, the bad and the ugly of American history.
#2: “Unforgiven” (1992)
If our list focused on the greatest westerns of ALL-TIME, the director and star of this cinematic classic would have a few here. After years of cold-blooded killing and buckets of booze, a grizzled outlaw retreats to a Midwestern pig farm – only to be offered one last job. You know the story, right? Well, not so fast, because “Unforgiven” transcends the average western due to Clint Eastwood’s mastery of the genre. His psychological study of western ideals and flawed characters helped “Unforgiven” become only the third western to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
#1: “True Grit” (2010)
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The idea of a re-make often leads the general public to cringe even more. However, when the Coen Brothers signed on to update the 1969 John Wayne film, everybody seemed to understand that the final product would become a new Western classic. And so, as a 14-year-old girl enlists a gruff Deputy Marshall to track down her father’s killer, the Coen Brothers complemented the brilliant ensemble cast with their usual aesthetic skill and paid their respects to a beloved genre of film.
