In a Valley of Violence (2016)

Best new western I have seen in long time. Anyone that doesn't like this movie I don't understand. Definitely a new fistful of dollars.

Watched it last night, and the first thing that struck me was how cheaply made it was. It reminded me of Arnolds "Aftermath". A rented lot, a shoestring budget, a bare bones story, a trite script, all amounting to an insult to the viewing public. Its OK for stars to make a movie to make money, but at least make a good movie, the gratuity was palpable. The trend was first noticed on films with Bruce Willis, who I now call the cameo kid, for some reason he doesn't care anymore, and just takes the cheque. There was an upside, and a surprising one, Taissa Farmiga, who acted everyone off the screen. The lady has instinct, the ability and enthusiasm to inject originality, on the hoof. The trend is disturbing, go back to quality, it delights and in the process makes money.

This film is ostensibly a "western." But it is more than that.For starters, it isn't a modern version of a western, but instead is more akin to the old spaghetti westerns. The music, the sets, the graphics, etc., are both an homage to spaghetti westerns and a humorous take-off on them.The plot is one you have seen in many westerns. A drifter comes into a small town that is controlled by a psychopath, conflict ensues, and there is a gun battle where the drifter "saves" the town.On one level that is all this is. On another, it is a wry, and dry, take-off on this old, familiar tale because in this film the drifter doesn't go after the town bullies to liberate the town but because they killed his dog.That's right. This is a film where the battle-hardened, killer hero is mush when his dog is killed. He cries.So, right there, you don't have a traditional western or a traditional spaghetti western. In NO OTHER western I have ever seen (hundreds, as I am a die-hard fan) has the hero ever cried. Even Nathan Brittles wasn't crying in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon when he went to his wife's grave.This guy cries and then exacts his revenge.Now, Ethan Hawk is great in this. Just a week earlier we had seen the (dreadful) remake of The Magnificent Seven, which he is also in. However, this film, In a Valley of Violence, is far superior. In Mag 7 II, the town "bully" has hundreds of hired gunmen, all of whom meet their deaths in about 20 minutes. It is so absurd as to be ridiculous.In Valley, there are 4, maybe 5, and none of them are even close to competent, or even scary. There is a bully, his dad, and three guys who just needed a job because they couldn't do anything else.And the gun battle is hilarious. You realize, while watching this film, that you have been had. It starts off to be a standard western, and slowly evolves into rib splitting humor as you watch the gun "battle" unfold. The dialogue is clever. And the humor doesn't beat you over the head. In fact, it is understated, which makes it even better.We enjoyed this film. We will watch it again. Just give it a chance. It will be especially rewarding for people who have a history with old-fashioned westerns, as it is a wry, dry take-off on them that pounds you with subtlety and intelligent humor.Enjoy, pilgrim!

The half half has some promise.It just gets a little boring after awhile.There's little character development from the main character. The act of revenge and execution is not stylish enough. And the jokes are not funny enough and seem in odd places. I can see that is a very low budget movie with so few extras in the town.3/10.