Review: The Good The Bad And The Ugly
- May 21, 2018
- 2 min read
Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood’s trilogy comes to a close with what is the most definitive western film. Ever.
Tuco (Eli Wallach), a ruthless bandit working against the law finds himself at odds with Blondie (Clint Eastwood) as the duo’s scheme begins to get uncomfortable. They pass ways in a less than amicable manner. Meanwhile the villainous Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef) seeks out a cache of stolen gold, killing anyone who gets in his way. Unbeknownst to the trio, they’re all set upon the same path, a path that can end in only one way.
I could talk for hours on the quality of Sergio Leone’s film making. The way in which he uses silence, the lingering wide shots, the uncomfortable closeups, how he builds tension and weaves stories alongside Ennio Morricone’s incredible score. How Leone’s west is darker, grittier and crueler than John Wayne’s Americana. The unexpected emotional moments forever burned into my memory or the way his characters wander from good to bad yet always remain heroic. Leone is the God of the western, and Eastwood, Eastwood is his Adam. He strides confidently about the sets with his trademark grimace and ever present squint, the embodiment of the anti-hero.
It is however, not Eastwood who is the standout here. Instead it’s Eli Wallach and his endearing Tuco. A no good bandit who always has something to say. He’s far and away the films most interesting player, and indeed almost of all the character development is given to him. He gets a backstory, an arc, everything one would expect from a quality character. While Angel Eyes and Blondie aren’t bad, they’re little more than excellently portrayed stereotypes. Blondie is the soft spoken badass, Angel Eyes is the sadistic villain, and that’s all there is to it.
Then there’s the films highest point, the score. Ennio Morricone’s music fills almost every scene, filled bombastic drums, haunting whistling and mournful strings. It’s music that elevates the film, brings a level of excellence to an already great film. From the opening credits to the now iconic final duel, the score permeates every level of the film, bringing out every possible quality.
The Good The Bad And The Ugly isn’t just the greatest western ever made, it’s one of the best films around. There are two kinds of people in this world, those who have seen it, and those you should. You should.
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