I accompanied Marvin on an errand yesterday, and we decided to watch a movie afterwards. We had thought about watching either Ang Babae sa Septic Tank or Rise of the Planet of the Apes. But since I found out that it was finally going to be released in the Philippines, we decided to watch Cowboys and Aliens instead.
Based on the graphic novel by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, Cowboys and Aliens starts with Jake Lonergan (Daniel Craig) waking up in the middle of the dessert, suffering from memory loss and wearing an unusual bracelet. He travels to the town of Absolution, where he meets Ella (Olivia Wilde) and gets into trouble with the law and Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford), after the sheriff finds out that he is a wanted man for various crimes. Whatever plans the sheriff and Colonel Dolarhyde had for Jake are thrown out the window, when the town is suddenly attacked by strange airborne vehicles that snatches up the townspeople. Amidst the chaos, Jake's bracelet is suddenly activated.
Cowboys and Aliens has been one of my more anticipated films for the US summer movie season, so I was a little disappointed to learn that I'd have to wait at least a week after it was released in the States. While waiting, I encountered a couple of just-okay reviews and news that The Smurfs movie might actually trump Jon Favreau's film for the weekend box office gross in the States. But I wasn't discouraged, nor did my interest wane.
And there are three reasons why I wanted to watch the film.
1. It's produced by Steven Spielberg.
2. It's directed by Jon Favreau.
3. It's got cowboys AND aliens!
It's a given that there will be interest in what Steven Spielberg and Jon Favreau are working on. The former being one of the directors who forever changed our definition of a blockbuster film, and the latter being the master behind one of the more successful comic book film adaptations of the last several years. So, their team-up for Cowboys and Aliens as producer and director was about as exciting as it could get for a movie fan like myself.
And if it weren't for the team-up, I would have probably raised an eyebrow at the idea of the western and sci-fi genre mash-up. Admittedly, there are very few films in the western genre that I liked, and anytime I do watch one, I end up feeling thirsty.
Yet, there is something intriguing about the idea of cowboys and aliens duking it out. Imagine the aliens with their advanced technology, fugly looks, and additional appendages that appear in very weird places, and the cowboys who are armed at most with pistols and shotguns, relying only on their manliness to get them through the day.
And there is a lot of manliness in the film. With the combination of Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford, the testosterone level of the movie is pretty amped up, and enjoyable to watch as their characters seem to both consciously and unconsciously vie for the role of alpha male, despite already having the obvious dilemna of aliens trying to wipe out humankind. Daniel Craig is intense and up to the task of performing well in the fight scenes. He does it so well, in fact, that in the first fight scene, I went, "Oh, it's James Bond transported in the Wild West and with an American accent.". Harrison Ford is irascible as a prosperous cattle farmer who has the run of the town of Absolution. Their characters are immediately at odds as it is revealed that they share a history together, but ultimately, albeit reluctantly, team up when the townspeople, including Dolarhyde's son, are abducted by the aliens.
Olivia Wilde portrays the lone female in the group. Her character, Ella, gravitates to Jake Lonergan early in the film, expressing interest in his bracelet and where he came from, revealing that she isn't just trying to pick him up for a Wild West date. Sam Rockwell, Clancy Brown, Keith Carradine, and Adam Beach portray some of the townspeople, which is a pretty impressive casting of established actors.
My general impression on the film is that while it won't win any awards, it was absolutely fun to watch. The film follows a particularly straightforward storyline, making it possible to guess how the movie is going to end. Yet, you still have a fun ride as you watch how the characters deal with their enemies with incredulity, and being the manly men of the West, soldier on despite overwhelming odds.
There are no giant armies, no rousing speeches, and the fights aren't as epic like the other summer movies released so far. On the other end of the spectrum, there are great performances, smart dialogue that are appropriately serious and funny without being snarky, and still able to offer nice surprises along the way.
Even with a story idea that seems out of this world, the filmmakers did not overreach with the evolution of the story. Jake and the townspeople of Absolution did not discover new technology to aid them nor did they execute ridiculously modern tactics in their battle with the aliens. They tried to stay true to how cowboys would react to their very unreal situation, with grit and brazen fearlessness. And the aliens themselves are portrayed as creatures zeroing in on accomplishing their target and finding ways on how to go about their master plan, but despite having technology that is centuries ahead of what the humans possessed at the time, are also primal in nature, matching the stark landscape that they chose to accomplish their goals.
So what did I learn about Cowboys and Aliens?
That it is a great popcorn movie, one that you should remember not to take too seriously, because it was never meant to answer your philosophical questions about life.
That cowboys are manly. Specifically, cowboys played by Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford.
That you should always remember that you have a knife. And that you should use it when weird alien arms are reaching for you, damnit.
That despite misgivings, Olivia Wilde can be awesome even if she's not playing Thirteen on House. And that she's not just playing the movie's token eye candy. That role is meant for Daniel Craig.
And lastly, that we should bring more barbeque fries from Potato Corner next time.
Happy viewing!!Labels: Action, Adaptation, Cowboys and Aliens, Film, Must-Watch, Sci-fi, Western
