Best Contemporary Western

[hockeyshark91]

Continuing on a western theme- favorite western set in contemporary times. I know many will go for Fargo and Hell Or High Water (one of my favorite recent movies) but you should all give Red Hill a watch. Very good movie.

[AKORIS]

yeah, I did vote for FARGO because it's the best film on the list imo.

I've seen (and own) RED HILL... agree that it's a good movie

[hasslein]

I was surprised how much I enjoyed Hell or High Water. Not the most original, but gets my vote.

[principehomura]

As a western, Wind River

[Elgie]

The Assassination of James by the Coward Robert Ford deserves more than being spotted as “other.”

That one might be my favorite. The Coen True Grit as well, which is generally regarded as good but easy by Coen Bros. standards but I’ve always found it to be much darker and weirder than people give it credit for. Worth a shout out for the thrilling standoff between Rooster and Ned’s gang.

Dead Man by Jim Jarmusch is just beautiful and I think respectful portrayals of natives count for a lot. Slow West is a cute little directorial exercise with a fantastic turn from Ben Mendelsohn wearing the best western winter coat since Warren Beatty’s in McCabe & Mrs. Miller. The Revenant would also make my list for a snow western based on how it contrast its action and the plight of its characters with the spiritual and the insurmountable settings.

If we’re willing to stretch the genre definition by a little bit, how about Logan?

[elecrofunk]

Very hard between There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men but went with the latter.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by elecrofunk

Very hard between There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men but went with the latter.

That was exactly the quandary in which I found myself. I went for the latter as well. But really it's a toss-up.

I also agree with Elgie about The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (MAN! is that a long title! ). Actually if I weren't half asleep and missed the "other" category, I probably would have picked that. Brilliantly acted, brilliantly photographed, and brilliantly directed, with a great script.

Of course, when you look at the people involved, it's not surprising in the least. How Deakins didn't win that year still baffles me. It's one of the most beautiful, visually captivating films I've EVER seen.

[Dr. Pavel]

most of those are not westerns.

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by Dr. Pavel

most of those are not westerns.

I'm glad someone said this.

Pretty weird list.

[Cremildo]

How is Fargo a western?

[jacobsever]

Oops. Voted "Other" before reading more.

By "contemporary western" I just thought you meant a Western film made in the past 10 years or so. Not specifically taking place in modern times. I voted other with "Slow West" in mind, but that takes place in the old days. Just made recently.

[Alan T]

Other:

Extreme Prejudice (1987)

[RickyBetter]

Originally Posted by Dr. Pavel

most of those are not westerns.

The poll says "Contemporary Western." I was going to explain but this page suffices...

Also known as Neo-Westerns, these films have contemporary American settings, and they utilize Old West themes and motifs (a rebellious anti-hero, open plains and desert landscapes, and gunfights). For the most part, they still take place in the American West and reveal the progression of the Old West mentality into the late 20th and early 21st centuries. This subgenre often features Old West-type characters struggling with displacement in a "civilized" world that rejects their outdated brand of justice.

Examples include Hud, starring Paul Newman (1963); The Getaway (1972); Junior Bonner (1972); Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974); Robert Altman's McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971); J. W. Coop, directed/co-written by and starring Cliff Robertson; Simon Wincer's Quigley Down Under; Robert Rodríguez's El Mariachi (1992) and Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003); John Sayles's Lone Star (1996); Tommy Lee Jones's The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005); Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain (2005); Wim Wenders's Don't Come Knocking (2005); Hearts of the West starring Jeff Bridges (1975); Alan J. Pakula's Comes a Horseman (1978); John Sturges's Bad Day at Black Rock (1955); Justified (2010-2015); the critically acclaimed Hell or High Water (2016); and the superhero film Logan (2017). Call of Juarez: The Cartel is an example of a Neo-Western video game. Likewise, the television series Breaking Bad, which takes place in modern times, features many examples of Western archetypes. According to creator Vince Gilligan, "After the first Breaking Bad episode, it started to dawn on me that we could be making a contemporary western. So you see scenes that are like gunfighters squaring off, like Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef — we have Walt and others like that."

http://www.writersleague.org/UserFil...0Subgenres.pdf

[P-Rock]

Still doesn't explain why Fargo and There Will Be Blood are considered to be Contemporary Westerns.

[unberechenbar]

Hell Or High Water

[levcore]

The Lone Ranger 2013

[RFK]

My vote is for Junior Bonner.

Although Alfredo Garcia, Extreme Prejudice, Dead Man, Heartland and Zachariah would be my next choices

[Winslow Leach]

Fargo

[L.J.]

No Country for Old Men

[DR Herbert West]

No Country