The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1966)
The definitive western epic.
Presentation:
Sergio Leone delivers a beautifully framed film with cinematic vistas and deserts in this masterpiece. Clint Eastwood is quiet and cool and Eli Wallach hones in the heart of the film as the necessary comedic relief. The trio is filled out with a convincingly sinister Lee Van Cleef. It's quite extraordinary how each frame is like a painting, composed with a technique that is very high level even for todays standards. Leone was ahead of his time, gated by technology. It's a true epic with long expositions, influencing masters like Roger Deakins. However, the audio and dialogue is painfully slow for modern audiences, it's almost like they are speaking a different language with a somewhat transatlantic accent.
Conclusion:
Although the technical quality is quite poor for this old film, the technique is very high. It's one of the best westerns and really captures the romanticism of cinematography. After watching this, you can understand why so many filmmakers today still make homages to westerns. Make no mistake, even compared to modern films, this is one of the best western epics of all time.
Recommendations
A visual treat with less compelling social commentary this time around.