Many people think that Clint EastwoodX Unforgiven is the best western of the 90s (and arguably one of the best westerns of all time). However, in the 90s there is actually an excellent western that is often overlooked. Sam RaimiX Living and dead. This 1995 western features more future stars, hilarious action, and stylized direction than any other film of the same genre from that decade. It was a time when a lot of boring movies were made, just following in the footsteps of John Wayne or old-school spaghetti westerns. These films might have had a great script or a great cast to fill the screen, but they rarely ever tried to do anything new in the genre. That’s where Fast and dead It may not have been a huge success at the box office and not become a classic, but gosh, it tries harder than any other western of the time.
Living and dead supports a super stacked cast featuring Sharon Stone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe, Keith David, Lance Henrikson, and more like a group of cowboys and snipers engaging in a long and bloody dueling competition. Stone plays Ellen, also known as “The Lady”, a woman whose father was killed and who seeks to avenge him by taking part in a dueling competition. Everyone else plays some form of the cowboy archetype. Gene Hackman is very funny as the evil and powerful criminal John Herod, ruler of the city of Redemption. DiCaprio is charming in this early career role, playing “The Kid” (one of the most common cowboy names of all time), Herod’s teenage son, bent on winning the competition and earning his father’s respect. Then there’s Court, played by Russell Crowe. In another version of this film, Cort may be the main character, but here he is just a mild-mannered expert gunslinger, much like the Man with No Name or Franco Nero classic Django character. Living and dead not very good due to the way he reinvents the western formula. It’s great because of the way he presents himself.
Sam Raimi brings The Quick and the Dead to life
Like all of his genre films, Sam Raimi is the real star of the show. In the spaghetti westerns of the 1960s and 70s, the genre became more of a stylized landscape with directors such as Sergio Leone And Sergio Corbucci shoot your films through a more inspired and enhanced lens than ever before. In the late 70s and 80s, such hyper-realistic westerns dwindled a little, but in 1995 Raimi gave the genre the necessary adrenaline rush. Without knowing much about it, you may start watching the movie wondering if it will be more like the stylistically toned down Raimi dramas of the 90s, but those worries go to bed right at the start of the movie. It only takes a minute and a half for the movie to get a little Sam Raimi. Evil Deadwhen viewers are placed in the POV of a cowboy who is shooting someone from a horse. The gun in the POV looks a bit cartoonish, there is some wobbly dubbing, and a moment later a cowboy hat is thrown into the lens. From the start, Raimi’s intentions are clear.
The film continues to be incredibly stylish. In the hands of any other director Living and dead would be an interesting but probably lifeless and common element in the larger western canon. Simon MooreX the script works, but it doesn’t quite change the game. It’s a beautiful tale of revenge in numbers, topped off with a clever element of hack-work with dueling competition. This is where Raimi elevates this adventure to no end.
There are so many moments in the movie where you think to yourself, “Sam Raimi shouldn’t have done this! Or that!” but he makes this unique creative choice and uses all those weird and inventive shots anyway! There is a part where a glass is thrown across the room and Raimi puts the camera inside the glass. In another scene, someone is shot in the eye (we see the point of view of the bullet, of course) and the person has enough time to scream before being killed. In all of this there is a fast and a slow increase. More than almost any film in his filmography, Living and dead proves what Raimi can do with someone else’s script, given the creative freedom to do so.
Could the cast of The Quick and the Dead be Raimi’s best?
The cast also adds life to this film. Sharon Stone is amazing as our main character, Ellen. She could play the character pretty sweetly if she wanted to, but Stone adds a sarcastic and poignant edge, as well as a stream of subdued anger lurking beneath the surface. Gene Hackman is simply the worst in this movie, and I mean the best. He is gleefully angry, taking so much pleasure in watching others suffer or die. DiCaprio doesn’t appear in the film as often as one might expect, but when he does, he gives it all he has. We’ve all seen Titanic and his performance in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape has been mentioned many times, but if you’re looking for another solid early DiCaprio role, Living and dead should be your next stop.
The rest of the film’s cast is filled with ’90s “that guy” actors and up-and-coming stars. Since the film is centered on citywide dueling competitions, there is an understanding that many cowboys will have to be killed. Previously mentioned people appear, such as the future top-notch Russell Crowe, as well as genre-film favorites Keith David and Lance Henrickson. Apart from these guys Tobin Bell, Pat Hingle, Gary Sinise, Kevin Conway, and more come play. Nobody puts on an Oscar-worthy performance or anything, but behind this seemingly endless cast, it’s more and more fun to watch familiar faces keep popping up throughout the movie. Beyond Raimi Spiderman films, this project arguably has its most complex cast yet.
How does this fit in with other Raimi films?
The filmography of Sam Raimi is much more diverse than many people think. His Evil Dead And Spiderman The trilogies stand out from the rest, but there are many hidden gems. Living and dead not as good as Raimi’s neo-noir Simple Plannor does he ride on the tops of the comics dark man or catastrophically underestimated crime wave, but it’s an interesting artifact nonetheless. He manages to find an interesting middle ground between these two types of films. It’s a scripted western that aims to be based on a story, like something like Unforgivenbut with a touch, Raimi will certainly end up satisfying fans who want to see what his touch can bring to the wild west. This is not an A-level Raimi, but that in itself is a very difficult task. Level B Raimi is a great place for any movie, and this is exactly the place where Living and dead lie.
The fast and the dead a desperate desire to breathe life into the western genre should earn him some points. This is a film designed to give viewers the most fun journey they can have, led by a director who is no stranger to entertaining viewers. Not only is this a massive recommendation for Raimi fans, but for those who want to see a western that really brings something new to the genre. If you’re looking for a great movie where everything goes by the rules, be sure to check out Unforgiven. If you’re looking for the best Western of the 90s, run Living and deadbecause, well, it rocks.
Source: Collider
I have worked as a journalist for over 7 years and have written for many different publications. I currently work as an author at Daily News Hack, where I mostly cover entertainment news. I have a great deal of experience in the industry and am always looking to learn more. I am a highly motivated individual who is always looking to improve my skills. I am also a very friendly and personable person, which makes me easy to work with.
