Silverado

Silverado (1985)
Director: Lawrence Kasden
Cast: Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Danny Glover, Kevin Costner, Brian Dennehy, John Cleese, Linda Hunt, Jeff Goldblum
Memorable Line: "This used to be a peaceful town."

Silverado has just about every cliche a movie western could have -- cruel cowboys, oppressed settlers, a crooked sheriff, a stampede and heroes who can shoot straight and villains who can't. One of the villains even wears an eye patch. You'd think that all these hackneyed elements would lead to a real mess, but Kasden takes the best of these makes an enjoyable romp of movie.

Silverado features a quartet of main characters. Emmett (Glenn) is a cool and collected sort of cowboy who knows how to handle a fight and to avoid one and his brother, Jake (Costner) who is hot headed and quick to start a fight. Paden (Kline) is a man with past he's trying to put behind him, but just can't. Mal (Glover) is rarity in the west, a black farmer and cowboy who has to fight against racism and the cruel men who want to oppress others. All of these men start on separate paths, but due to circumstance end up banding together to fight to survive and overcome a common enemy - a patently cruel and arrogant sheriff (Dennehy) and his ruthless gang of deputies.

Kasden brings a modern sensibility to the genre and for the most part of the movie, it works. Silverado is more of homage to the western than a real western. Costner has a wonder "coming out" roll and really seizes it with a gusto that an audience is sure to enjoy. Glenn and Glover mirror each other in their roles and acquit themselves well and Kline has a downplayed role that works for the movie. The film is full of great supporting roles with John Cleese as a pragmatic sheriff, Linda Hunt as a saloon owner and Jeff Goldblum as a slick gambler in cohoots with the sheriff.

If you're looking for a enjoyable updating of the western, the Silverado is the movie for you.