Movie Minx

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach
Directed by: Sergio Leone

Plot Three gunmen set out to find a hidden fortune. Who will walk away with the cash?

But is it any good?

Hrm. Well, let’s start by comparing The Good, The Bad and The Ugly with Once Upon a Time in the West because I watched it just a few weeks ago (I have yet to watch a Fistful of Dollars) and they share Leone hallmarks, such as the abrupt close-ups, the twangy Western theme music, the wide desert shots and meticulous sets. All good. They’re also both three hours long, which has to be noted. I didn’t mind with Once Upon a Time, but I did slightly with this one – I felt it dragged in parts.

But Good, Bad and Ugly has Clint Eastwood. I don’t think I’d ever seen a Clint Eastwood movie before. These days he’s a big-time septagenarian director, but in this he’s the ultra-cool, deadpan, pistol-whippin’ ‘Blondie’. Of course Blondie is rough around the edges, but with an infectious grin revealing shining white teeth. He’s crafty and clever and a killing machine, but only if the other guy deserved it.

The three-person shootout at the end was the highlight for me and meant that the film narrowly beat Once Upon a Time as my favourite Sergio Leonie film so far. Can’t wait to see Fistful of Dollars.

IMDb’s rating: 8.9/10
My rating: 8.6/10