Garlington continued, “Their newest collaboration is
“The Magnificent Seven”, a modern action crowdpleaser anchored by a fun
ensemble cast.” The original 1960 Western classic was based on Kurosawa’s
famous “Seven Samurai.” This 2016 updated film appears to move further away
from that story but never so far as to lose that trait. It accepts the basics
of the story while adding in a few details of its own. As expected, it tries to
do everything bigger most famously the huge wild western action.
If you haven’t seen the 1960 Western, Yul Brynner led
a hired team of cowboys to protect a small Mexican village from a team of
violent bandits. In Fuqua’s remake the Mexican village is exchanged for a small
mining town named Rose Creek and Peter Sarsgaard’s Bogue is the evil industrialist
torturing them. Washington takes Brynner’s role. He plays Sam Chisolm who is
approached by a young woman from Rose Creek, played by Haley Bennett, asking
for help.
Sam agrees but first he’ll need a team of gunfighters
to train the townspeople and lead the defense against Bogue and his gang. His
team of wild west outcasts includes an alcoholic gambler (Chris Pratt), and
ex-confederate sharpshooter (Ethan Hawke), a dangerous assassin (Byung-hun
Lee), a wanted Mexican criminal (Manuel Garcia- Rulfo), a big strong tracker
(Vincent D’Onofrio), and a disappointed Comanche warrior (Martin Sensmeier).
Fuqua, screenwriters Nic Pizzolatto and Richard Wenk
do a good job of building a fun camaraderie between their characters. It’s one
of the film’s main aspects since it really wants to be a buddy-cowboy movie. Garlington
said, “There is plenty of playful banter, ribbing, and jests but never too
much.” That’s because it’s also trying for something more – an old school
western.
Garlington said, “Watching the movie I couldn’t help
but feel a little bit nostalgic. Fuqua tips his Stetson to a number of classic
western angles both narratively and visually.” His use of the camera is fantastic
(great cinematography from another “Training Day” alumni Mauro Fiore) and the
score has some of the last work of the late great James Horner. You’ll be able
to see Fuqua channeling from a variety of western directors from John Ford to
Sergio Leone.
Expect some fierce and energetic action especially in
the unavoidable final showdown (which is especially fun). Garlington noted, “Following
a familiar blueprint each character is given their moment to show off their
gun-twirling, knife throwing, or dynamite-chunking.” What you won’t see is any
deeper feel of emotional difficulties between these characters. We get flashes
of it especially from one specific character but never enough to distract it
from its clear want to be a straightforward action film.
That leaves “The Magnificent Seven” open to reasonable
criticism. Garlington noted, “It’s not a deep contemplative character study or
emotionally heavy drama. It certainly misses some opportunities to incorporate
those elements which may have made it a better film. But I’m fine with it since
that isn’t what this film is aiming to be. It’s an action romp and Denzel and
company pull it off nicely. They are clearly having a blast doing it and I must
say I did too.”
This a good remake and an enjoyable one too. You can
watch this on MGM+, but when I saw it, I was able to find it on Prime. Check
this one out because as a modern update, I think it was one of those remakes
that people could get into. Yes, the original will always be better, but this
is one of those remakes that people can see and not want to miss out,
especially with the ensemble cast in here. Watch it and enjoy.
We have now reached the end of “The Magnificent Seven
Month.” I hope everyone enjoyed it and next month, we’re going to be in for
some excitement for “Black History Movie Month.”
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