Rent Silverado (1985)

Entertaining Adventure Western - Silverado review by GI

Silverado is a pure cinematic myth western overloaded with genre tropes and clichés but being genuinely highly entertaining as a result. Writer and director Lawrence Kasdan utilises influences from a multitude of westerns and famous directors especially Anthony Mann (with arguably star Scott Glenn here in a James Stewart type role) and Sergio Leone with homage shots really evident in the final gunfight. Glenn plays Emmett, fresh out of jail for the manslaughter of a rich cattle baron and now on his way to meet his brother Jake (Kevin Costner). On his way he saves the life of Paden (Kevin Kline) and the three team up together. After some adventures along the way they head for Silverado where the corrupt Sheriff (Brian Dennehy), an old outlaw friend of Paden, is in cahoots with the son of the man Emmett killed. It all goes round and round all the while building up to a big showdown and involves Danny Glover, John Cleese, Jeff Goldblum, Rosanna Arquette and others in an action adventure western that is epic in scale, occasionally frustrating (Rosanna Arquette's part seems pointless and looks like it was heavily cut leaving her part of the story very unfulfilling) but full of shoot outs, villains, betrayal, revenge and everything that the classic westerns of the 50s and 60s delivered in spades. Yes it's flawed but if you love a good western then this is great fun and well worth checking out if you've not seen it.