The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Review By Brent Williams

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Eli Wallach

Director: Sergio Leone

Genre: Western

Year of Release: 1966

"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people, my friend; Those with loaded guns; and those that dig. You dig"

A film that epitomizes the essence of what a good western is and then sets the bench mark with the colossal performance driven by three magnificent characters. Giddy Up! 

Plot:

There are a set few tropes that define the western genre, this film proves that its not necessarily a bad thing. The titular characters Joe, Tuco and Angel Eyes form unlikely alliances throughout the film in order to race to try and obtain a massive fortune of $200,000 hidden in a isolated cemetery. 

Characters:

Clint Eastwood, as usual, blesses us at the calm, steely sharpshooter character we have come to expect from him. Although titled as "The Good", Blondie still seems willing to engage in criminal activities in order to obtain gold. Eli Wallach as Tuco was the standout performance in this film, his character definitely lived up to the 'ugly' side of the wild wild west and stopped short of nothing to obtain gold. Lee Van Cleef's ironically named Angel Eyes served as a sound antagonist with his menacing glare and calculating schemes. He embodies the roguish qualities of a western protagonist whilst still longing for the ecstasy of gold. The film definitely became the celebrated classic it is today through the performances by the trio. 

Overall:

Leone has prefered to use visuals over words in order to tell the narrative, with the film having some of the most intense scenes particularly the graveyard showdown. These scenes are driven by quick camera shots and a fantastic soundtrack. The film is definitely character driven and the sudden "film within a film" with the Civil War battle sequence seemed a little disjointed in the overarching plot. However the film is remarkable and is a must watch for any avid movie watcher. 

8/10 Fudges

Movie Trailer: 

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly