The Westerner

I fear this film is overrated. My biggest objection was the farcical attitude Wyler took with the characters--how jokingly he assembled the film. A man runs for his life and funny music is played? What on earth was he trying to say with that--that it's enjoyable to get lynched and the audience should laugh when the innocent guy's neck snaps? As I write this I guess I'm realizing that I found this film actually insulting. Not to mention historically inaccurate. And thus overrated.

Is Walter Brennan a misunderstood imp or a deranged psychopath?

To be honest, I, too, would want to take down 'Judge' Roy Bean. I have no issue with him being a pervert and megalomaniac, but it needs to be realised in an interesting way which Brennan and Wyler fail to do. By contrast, I could not resist the charm of Cooper. This is a slow and boring film until the fire in the corn fields when it finally gets going. If it was me, I would have started with the fire and gone from there. The sub-plot about Lily Langtree is weird, it doesn't work.

Some beautiful framing and a performance by Brennan that's straight fire, but Cooper is not my cup of tea--a block of wood. Most interesting for me were two side characters (Chickenfoot and a friend) who sounded almost exactly like Stephen Root and Tim Blake Nelson in O Brother). Hard to believe the Coen's haven't tried a Judge Roy Bean-themed film yet. Some of the lore about that guy sounds right up their alley.

87.50

Wears down after a very strong start, and sexist in the way it portrays the female character, but still not bad. Pretty good show from Gary Cooper.

Initially tiresome and silly but somewhat redeemed by the second half, which contained more than a few impressive scenes. However, it didn't really move me overall. Was I supposed to care about the malicious drunk, Judge Bean? Cooper & Davenport were an unconvincing couple. And it really vilifies cattle ranchers, which I imagine many Texans would not appreciate.

I like Gary Cooper, but Walter Brennan - ever the supporting actor - nails his role as usual and helps make this a really fun movie.

There's simply never been a more likable badguy then Walter Brennan in The Westerner (1940)!

From a postmodern perspective, the title alludes to Cooper being out of place, almost a time-traveler, who acts exactly as expected after seeing too many westerns, but with a sly cynicism elevating the entire film from trite clichés to interesting genre commentary. It's fun to see him navigate the plot as an omniscient God. Brennan is perfectly cast as a strong, conflicted, drunk counterpart to the lovely, naive women - though all are wooing our Westerner. As always, beautiful Toland-shots.

Cooper's always good at playing the sympathetic rascal and he does it really well here. With Brennan as a really good foil their back and forth really raises the film. The background story about the old west is pretty good too, even if the rosy bookends are at odds with the harsh core of the film.

Whenever Cooper and Brennan are together, this movie is first class. One of the best hangover scenes ever.