Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

*Get the film on Amazon here*

While the concept is a can't-miss, and the big-name cast is up for the challenge, this sci-fi/western wasn't a hit at the box office.

Jake (Daniel Craig) is an outlaw who wakes up in the New Mexico desert with his memory erased and a giant metal bracelet attached to his wrist. He does figure out that he is good with guns and fighting, and attracts the attention of the sheriff (Keith Carradine) in a local town. As a matter of fact, he attracts a lot of attention from the townsfolk after they are attacked by large flying machines that swipe up some of their family members and neighbors. Jake's bracelet is actually an advanced weapon, and a grudging partnership is developed between him and the local land baron Dollarhyde (Harrison Ford). A posse is formed to track down the kidnapped people, and they discover that something very strange is occurring out in the desert.

I remember when this was released and I was surprised at the lack of excitement for the film- then I finally watched it. The screenplay credit features half a dozen names, and director Jon Favreau is not exactly known for his emotionally resonating films. He is an expert technician, but many of his projects are missing a heart and soul. "Cowboys & Indians" is no exception. The cast is great, with Dano turning in a fantastic performance, but the script is bland and Favreau has his actors take the proceedings way to seriously. There's a strange agnostic/atheist subtext thrown into some scenes, which is fine if you believe that (as one character keeps apologizing), but a host of other social issues of the late 1800's American West aren't touched upon, so the subtext sticks out like a sore thumb- as does Brown's role as the pastor who only seems to exist in films like this.

"Cowboys & Aliens" is another example of film making by committee. It's technically proficient, looks fantastic, and features a musical score that works. It's also disposable and at times, soulless- a perfect example of "good enough."

Stats:
(2011) 119 min. (* * * 1/2) out of five stars
-Directed by Jon Favreau
-Screenplay by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman & Damon Lindelof and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby, Screen Story by Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby and Steve Oedekerk based on the comic book by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg
-Cast: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Keith Carradine, Olivia Wilde, Paul Dano, Clancy Brown, Sam Rockwell, Adam Beach, Walton Goggins, Raoul Max Trujillo, Abigail Spencer, Chris Browning, Noah Ringer
(PG-13), contains physical violence, strong gun violence, strong gore, profanity, some adult situations, alcohol and drug use