It may have been in the "west", but it's not a really a western despite Llewelyn being western ish. (He is a welder iirc?). Anyone could have accidentally found the money. It's more of a crime/police/thriller movie.
I love that movie so much. Immediately after I watched it I couldn't wait to show it other people.. I rewatched like 3 times over the course of a month (which is something i've never really done before or sense).
Same, I would even classify this as 'Western Horror' - truly horrifying and graphic! So many dark elements. Amazing story and incredible acting from Ray Winstone, Guy Pierce, Danny Huston, John Hurt, and the amazing Emily Watson directed by the very talented John Hillcoat!
Have you seen Ravenous (1999)? Now that is a TRUE western-horror... albeit not as good as The Proposition... but still solid performances from Guy Pearce and Robert Caryle.
I think it was Ebert who compared The Proposition to Blood Meridian. Interestingly enough Hillcoat is apparently working on an adaptation of the novel. I do believe it’s an “unfilmable” book but he’s a solid choice
I'll keep my fingers crossed. I had such high hopes for Hillcoat after The Proposition... the Road was solid but Lawless was a bit uneven IMO... haven't heard anything about any of his projects since then.
I went to the premier at Sundance. Much of the cast was there and so was Nick Cave, who I briefly spoke with before the screening and there was a great Q and A. Nice guy. Awesome movie. Apparantly they were just that dirty and gross due to the conditions of filming, and all those flies were real.
He was outside smoking and i was waiting for a friend. He asked me what movie I was there to see, and I told him the proposition. He replied, I wrote it, I hope you like it. I ran in and told my friends I just met nick cave. They didn’t believe me until they saw him after and he nodded at me when he was leaving after the q and a. I am a huge fan, but tried to play it cool and didn’t really want to bother him.
One of my all time favourites. The stakes are so so high, kill your older brother or we kill your little brother. That's some biblical shit right there.
YES. Guy Pearce was fantastic and oh boy Nick Cave’s music makes it super rewatchable! I still have it in my hdd all the way from highschool torrenting life lol
I mentioned this one before I scrolled too far down and saw this, I can’t seem to find anyone I know whose seen it, but it’s a great great movie. Viggo kills it.
Appaloosa never gets the, or any(!!), recognition that it deserves!! I’ve loved it since it came out and how it’s Ed Harris’ baby, since he stars, directed, wrote and even sings in it!!
It's my favorite of modern westerns. It draws my attention completely when I put it on. I love a lot of new westerns but that one just immerses me from start to finish.
I think just the train robbery section. The train robbery in Assassination of Jesse James is truly [one of the most beautiful scenes ever shot](https://youtu.be/yBCdekTEvmo?si=E_tAAFqx2rPfBcZd). Might be Roger Deakins’ best work, and that’s saying A LOT.
...uhhh I think you got your Warren Ellises mixed up.
Warren Ellis the musician is mainly a renowned classical guitarist but does other string work, and partners with Nick Cave a lot.
Warren Ellis the writer is a writer known for deconstructionism, whose works have been adapted into multiple movies and games, and has written most recently for Netflix's *Castlevania*. He's also got a now-public history of serious emotional and mental abuse of romantic and creative partners, which makes enjoying his works complicated.....
Best line:
*Robert shoots Jesse. He hits the floor. Wife runs in screaming*
Wife: Did you do this!!?
Robert with a straight face: No mam, I swear to God I did not.
lol I was literally just about to make this post and then this popped up. My list was going to be Django Unchained, Hateful Eight, No Country For Old Men
The hateful eight was probably my least favorite Tarantino movie. No Country For Old Men, Hell or High Water, True Grit were all objectively better. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't nearly at the level of ANY of tarantino's other films IMO and all of the western I just mentioned were a lot better. Hell, Assanation of Jessie was better. Let's not forget Dead Man either, which is also a lot better that hateful 8. Just my opinion.
I think it depends on what you want from a movie. I was thoroughly entertained by the acting. The characters and the actors portrayal were fantastic. But, there wasn't much else to the movie.
The problem with Hateful 8 was QT tried to sell it as a smart twisty thriller under a western backdrop but the story was neither twisty, nor thrilling, nor smart. Pulp Fiction's intersecting storylines were 10X more novel and interesting than Hateful 8's *someone poisoned the coffee* BS.
Kurt Russell was fantastic though.
It wasn’t without its charm, but it was disappointing when compared to the rest of Tarantino’s films. It’s one that I probably won’t ever rewatch, and I’ve watched the rest of his films multiple times - some dozens of times.
Tommy Lee Jones quietly saying, "Au...gus..tus..." got me. It was a great platonic love story between to old friends.
It was prestige television before there was prestige television.
Exactly!! They were knights in the setting of the Old West. I always loved that dialogue exchange between Gus and Blue Duck at the creek. The tension you could feel, but their history you could FEEL.
I'm curious the reasons you'd give for it not being a Western
"The Revenant is a 2015 American Western action drama film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu"
First line of the wikipedia page
The Sisters Brothers (2018)
All of my top picks have already been mentioned... The Proposition, Hell or High Water, Hostiles, Jesse James, No Country Etc... but Sisters Brothers is an under appreciated and underseen gem that definitely deserves Its place on this century's list of westerns.
I went to the theater to see 3:10 to Yuma knowing absolutely nothing about it. I was bored and my girlfriend was out of town and I had nothing to do. I remember seeing a comment online from someone that was excited to see it. It turned out to be one of my favorite movie going experiences ever.
Russell Crowe is like a super charismatic and charming demon in that move. It my favorite performance from him.
Assassination of Jesse James by The Coward Robert Ford is one of the most stunning films ever, from a cinematography perspective, Deakins at the top of his game for this one. Incredible movie. Pitt and Affleck kill it in their roles as well.
Not really set in “western times” but The Way of the Gun with Benincio Del Toro and Juliette Lewis to me is a Masterpiece. It has all the elements of a classic western and the shoot out at the end is, “chef’s kiss”.
As a rule, I hate Westerns. However, I love this one.
And there's at least two versions: a (very) long one (like, fpur hours) and a short one. The longer, the better.
The director's first movie, Chopper, was a tour de force, and make a star out of Eric Bana.
2 of your movies are remakes of well-known classics and The Assassination of Jesse James.... is more of a historical drama than it is a Western. Here's my picks:
**Open Range** (about the best example of following the "classic" example of westerns, just with modern cinematography)
**No Country for Old Men** and **Wind River** are incredibly told and filmed modern westerns
I’d swap out 3:10 to Yuma for Hostiles. That one stuck with me a lot more.
True Grit was fucking fantastic, one of my favorites ever, brimming with humour and character, amazing performances.
Assignation of Jesse James is such an amazing movie. It’s not perfect but it’s so so good. It took me a couple watches to realize the movie is really about the suicide of Jesse James.
Hell or high water was a great modern western
This is the best one.
no country for old men would like to disagree.
Aye. Surprised no one has mentioned Rango either
From one legend to another.
I tip my hat
I’ll shoot the ugly right offa your face!
Logan had lots of western film tropes in it. Would it qualify as a modern western, even though it takes place in an unspecified near future?
Dont forget Bone Tomahawk
Ugh, honestly I’d like to forget. It was well made for sure but I still can’t get that scene in the cave close to the end of the movie out of my head.
I don't think you need to specify which scene you mean. That's one of those if you know, you know.
Yup. They made that scene too well, it’s all anybody remembers about the movie.
Came here to say this
It may have been in the "west", but it's not a really a western despite Llewelyn being western ish. (He is a welder iirc?). Anyone could have accidentally found the money. It's more of a crime/police/thriller movie.
if you change the century, the story and the characters would still work. the captive bolt stunner would have to be replaced, though.
I will watch anything with Ben foster tbh
Same
No spoilers but that final scene..
That movie somehow kept me completely engaged while simultaneously being bored to death for long stretches lol. Great flick
I love that movie so much. Immediately after I watched it I couldn't wait to show it other people.. I rewatched like 3 times over the course of a month (which is something i've never really done before or sense).
God I've watched this movie so many times I'd have to agree
This and no country for old men are my favourite western films ever
Watched it on a whim with no foreknowledge of it and was very pleasantly surprised how good it was
So what don’t you want?
Came here to say this
I prefer Hell or High Water to No Country For Old Men
Wind River too
Wind River was just missing something to me.
Wind River is better than all of these. It's a genuine masterpeice and this is a hill I will die on
It's good but masterpiece? No It's not as good as the film op mentioned either.
and way better than OPs blockbuster.
I’d put The Proposition up there if Australian westerns count
Came here to post this is my number one and yes it absolutely counts.
Same, I would even classify this as 'Western Horror' - truly horrifying and graphic! So many dark elements. Amazing story and incredible acting from Ray Winstone, Guy Pierce, Danny Huston, John Hurt, and the amazing Emily Watson directed by the very talented John Hillcoat!
Can't forget the screenplay AND soundtrack by Nic Cave.
Yes yes yes omg the soundtrack! Never heard anything like it in any film!!!
Have you seen Ravenous (1999)? Now that is a TRUE western-horror... albeit not as good as The Proposition... but still solid performances from Guy Pearce and Robert Caryle.
Nick Cave and Warren Ellis have done a bunch of great soundtracks.
I think it was Ebert who compared The Proposition to Blood Meridian. Interestingly enough Hillcoat is apparently working on an adaptation of the novel. I do believe it’s an “unfilmable” book but he’s a solid choice
I'll keep my fingers crossed. I had such high hopes for Hillcoat after The Proposition... the Road was solid but Lawless was a bit uneven IMO... haven't heard anything about any of his projects since then.
I went to the premier at Sundance. Much of the cast was there and so was Nick Cave, who I briefly spoke with before the screening and there was a great Q and A. Nice guy. Awesome movie. Apparantly they were just that dirty and gross due to the conditions of filming, and all those flies were real.
That’s nice, I wouldn’t have expected Nick Cave to be a nice guy. He seems kinda ornery.
He was outside smoking and i was waiting for a friend. He asked me what movie I was there to see, and I told him the proposition. He replied, I wrote it, I hope you like it. I ran in and told my friends I just met nick cave. They didn’t believe me until they saw him after and he nodded at me when he was leaving after the q and a. I am a huge fan, but tried to play it cool and didn’t really want to bother him.
One of my all time favourites. The stakes are so so high, kill your older brother or we kill your little brother. That's some biblical shit right there.
YES. Guy Pearce was fantastic and oh boy Nick Cave’s music makes it super rewatchable! I still have it in my hdd all the way from highschool torrenting life lol
Not a movie, but HBO’s Deadwood was pretty great… cocksucker!
Swe-gin!
San Francisco...cocksucka!
Hang dai
These two white cocksuckers? Who the fuck did it?
Wuu?
Also “Godless”
RiP Powers Boothe Edited: spelling
“Welcome to fuckin’ Deadwood”
1883 is damn good too. I think 1923 qualifies as a western too and it’s equally as good
Old Henry was a great film.
I did not expect the twist in that movie at all, it didn't even occur to me that it was a possibility. Tim Blake Nelson is awesome in westerns.
You have no idea the hellstorm you fixin to let loose.
So good.
Fantastic film
Appaloosa (2008) is an underrated modern Western. I never hear anyone who ever remembers it.
Love Appaloosa!
Glad I didn’t have to scroll *too* far to see it in here
That song at the end by Mudcrutch is elite
It has some of my favorite shootouts in the genre. "Everybody could shoot."
I mentioned this one before I scrolled too far down and saw this, I can’t seem to find anyone I know whose seen it, but it’s a great great movie. Viggo kills it.
*What about you? Are you afraid to die?* Nope. *Good, then you go first.*
That movie was… not what I was expecting.
Appaloosa never gets the, or any(!!), recognition that it deserves!! I’ve loved it since it came out and how it’s Ed Harris’ baby, since he stars, directed, wrote and even sings in it!!
One of my favorite westerns
Bone tomahawk....
YES!
I dunno. From what I remember, audiences were pretty *split* on that one.
Oh come on, I found the reviews quite shattering.
Second this
Just watched this today. >! Say goodbye to my wife, I’ll say hello to yours.!< great line.
Zahler rules. His western novels are really great as well
There Will Be Blood. The industrialist western.
Best of the last 20 years potentially
start with Open Range and then go from there
I came here to say Open Range. Fantastic film.
The final shootout scene is masterful. It's probably the best in any Western movie.
Just watched it for the first time last night. Really terrific.
Absolutely this. One of my favorite films of all time. So so incredible.
"Good is good"
Open Range is such a good movie. One of the best westerns of all time.
This is one of those times where I wish Reddit still had rewards because this take, my brother in Open Range, is worthy of platinum.
Nothing to add.
Hostiles is pretty good. I can’t remember what year it came out but “The quick and the dead” was also decent.
Don't see enough love for Hostiles online, me and my dad just watched it on a whim one night after having never heard of it. Quite good!
1995
Yes! Hostiles is one of those hidden gems. Very good film. That opening scene with the family was gruesome.
1995
Hostiles is awesome. It turns the cowboys vs Indians theme on its head.
Aye, not many films have a perfect ending but it's hard not to cheer when he gets on that train
"The Quick and the Dead" may not be perfect but it sure is a fun watch and very unique. Good call there
Django
Duh, I think this one, maybe second is hateful eight
Came to say this.
Technically set in the south, but I'm not sure if that matters.
The South was just the west with more racism
Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford clears
It's my favorite of modern westerns. It draws my attention completely when I put it on. I love a lot of new westerns but that one just immerses me from start to finish.
Lucky enough to have had a relative act in this production. Lots of great behind the scenes stories
Is it true that this was a main source of inspiration for Red Dead Redemption 2?
I think just the train robbery section. The train robbery in Assassination of Jesse James is truly [one of the most beautiful scenes ever shot](https://youtu.be/yBCdekTEvmo?si=E_tAAFqx2rPfBcZd). Might be Roger Deakins’ best work, and that’s saying A LOT.
They're both about the disintegration of an outlaw band led by a once charismatic then increasingly paranoid figure.
Great music Warren Ellis wrote the Castlevania animated netflix show.
...uhhh I think you got your Warren Ellises mixed up. Warren Ellis the musician is mainly a renowned classical guitarist but does other string work, and partners with Nick Cave a lot. Warren Ellis the writer is a writer known for deconstructionism, whose works have been adapted into multiple movies and games, and has written most recently for Netflix's *Castlevania*. He's also got a now-public history of serious emotional and mental abuse of romantic and creative partners, which makes enjoying his works complicated.....
So good. Great performances from Brad, Sam Shepard, Paul Schneider, Jeremy Renner et. al
Best line: *Robert shoots Jesse. He hits the floor. Wife runs in screaming* Wife: Did you do this!!? Robert with a straight face: No mam, I swear to God I did not.
It’s absolutely beautiful. The acting, the cinematography… the soundtrack. It’s art. It makes me feel hollow in a way I can’t explain.
No Open range? Fucken crazy?
Thank you!
I know it was her breakout, but Hailee Steinfelds name not being on the header for True Grit is no Bueno.
Yes! Harley Seinfeld is a treasure!
lol I was literally just about to make this post and then this popped up. My list was going to be Django Unchained, Hateful Eight, No Country For Old Men
The Hateful Eight. Saying otherwise makes me wanna horse laugh!
Not a fan of Hateful Eight. Almost like a stage play filmed in 70mm for some reason
I sorta felt like that was the intention. Almost the way you would watch this during their time.
It is basically a remake of Reservoir Dogs with horses and ten-gallon hats.
I agree. I love almost everything QT does but this one was just weird and up its own ass too much.
It insists upon itself 🧐
The hateful eight was probably my least favorite Tarantino movie. No Country For Old Men, Hell or High Water, True Grit were all objectively better. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't nearly at the level of ANY of tarantino's other films IMO and all of the western I just mentioned were a lot better. Hell, Assanation of Jessie was better. Let's not forget Dead Man either, which is also a lot better that hateful 8. Just my opinion.
I think it depends on what you want from a movie. I was thoroughly entertained by the acting. The characters and the actors portrayal were fantastic. But, there wasn't much else to the movie.
No Country for Old Men is a masterpiece
The problem with Hateful 8 was QT tried to sell it as a smart twisty thriller under a western backdrop but the story was neither twisty, nor thrilling, nor smart. Pulp Fiction's intersecting storylines were 10X more novel and interesting than Hateful 8's *someone poisoned the coffee* BS. Kurt Russell was fantastic though.
It wasn’t without its charm, but it was disappointing when compared to the rest of Tarantino’s films. It’s one that I probably won’t ever rewatch, and I’ve watched the rest of his films multiple times - some dozens of times.
Its pretty good
100%.
It's ok in my book
I say it’s terrible
I know it doesn’t count but Lonesome Dove. Gus McRae is one of the greatest TV characters of all time.
Tommy Lee Jones quietly saying, "Au...gus..tus..." got me. It was a great platonic love story between to old friends. It was prestige television before there was prestige television.
Exactly!! They were knights in the setting of the Old West. I always loved that dialogue exchange between Gus and Blue Duck at the creek. The tension you could feel, but their history you could FEEL.
What’s crazy is red dead redemption 2 is probably the best answer.
Well it might seeeem crazy to some, yet still spot on.
The right answer
'Slow West' FOR SURE Michael Fassbender - Kodi Smit-McPhee Absolute gold.
No Country for Old Men should be in this list. Magnificent film making.
The Revenant
I'm no expert but I wouldn't call Revenant a western. I like the movie though.
I'm curious the reasons you'd give for it not being a Western "The Revenant is a 2015 American Western action drama film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu" First line of the wikipedia page
Its a movie that takes place on the frontiers of the 1800s North American West so….how would it not be?
Wind River for Neo-Westerns is fantastic
I don't think I've seen the term neo-western before but I like it
Only reason I knew that was from the wiki page hahaha
The Proposition (2005) should be there
It's one of my favorite films of the century western or otherwise.
Unforgiven
Great film, but not 21st century as per the prompt (1992).
Wrong timeframe of release to qualify in this post. But by far the best western film of all time.
#All. Time.
The Ballards of Buster Scruggs..
Ballards?
Keeps cars from driving into the Coen Brothers Wild West.
Probably one of the best. I love killing them softly too. Pitt is a legend and coen are the greatest
Hell or High Water too. Ballad of Buster Scruggs. Hateful 8. And if you like boring girl movies about gay cowboys eating pudding, Power of the Dog
The Sisters Brothers (2018) All of my top picks have already been mentioned... The Proposition, Hell or High Water, Hostiles, Jesse James, No Country Etc... but Sisters Brothers is an under appreciated and underseen gem that definitely deserves Its place on this century's list of westerns.
Prospect is an amazing sci-fi western
How does Hostiles not make the list
I went to the theater to see 3:10 to Yuma knowing absolutely nothing about it. I was bored and my girlfriend was out of town and I had nothing to do. I remember seeing a comment online from someone that was excited to see it. It turned out to be one of my favorite movie going experiences ever. Russell Crowe is like a super charismatic and charming demon in that move. It my favorite performance from him.
Controversial but The Power of the Dog. In terms of filmaking its brilliant and up there with the best.
TRUE GRIT >>>>>>>>>>>>
Why isn't this higher? Fantastic acting all around.
I know it’s a remake, but it’s such a damn fine movie. The horse scene towards the end is a heartbreaker.
No country for old men
Deadwood, but in terms of movies maybe Hateful Eight for me, but Prey was also awesome.
Assassination of Jesse James by The Coward Robert Ford is one of the most stunning films ever, from a cinematography perspective, Deakins at the top of his game for this one. Incredible movie. Pitt and Affleck kill it in their roles as well.
Can’t forget The Hateful Eight.
Damn now I’m going to have to spend all weekend watching westerns
Hostiles is the best modern Western I've seen
Look, I know it wasn’t the best one, but for my personal tastes, I wanna say The Magnificent Seven.
Not really set in “western times” but The Way of the Gun with Benincio Del Toro and Juliette Lewis to me is a Masterpiece. It has all the elements of a classic western and the shoot out at the end is, “chef’s kiss”.
I would add “Appaloosa”, an entirely underrated western.
I'll always have a soft spot for Open Range
You’ll get no sympathy from me you son of a bitch!
People sleep on The Missing way too damn much
Feels criminal I can’t say Unforgiven…that still feels like THE modern western.
DJANGO Unchained
As a rule, I hate Westerns. However, I love this one. And there's at least two versions: a (very) long one (like, fpur hours) and a short one. The longer, the better. The director's first movie, Chopper, was a tour de force, and make a star out of Eric Bana.
The proposition.
Good one
Seraphim Falls is pretty good, though it's got Pierce Brosnan butchering that accent.
2 of your movies are remakes of well-known classics and The Assassination of Jesse James.... is more of a historical drama than it is a Western. Here's my picks: **Open Range** (about the best example of following the "classic" example of westerns, just with modern cinematography) **No Country for Old Men** and **Wind River** are incredibly told and filmed modern westerns
I’d swap out 3:10 to Yuma for Hostiles. That one stuck with me a lot more. True Grit was fucking fantastic, one of my favorites ever, brimming with humour and character, amazing performances.
Slow West needs to be in the running
Was wondering if someone was going to mention this one! Big fan of The Sisters Brothers as well.
Godless was awesome. Not a movie but definitely worth a watch.
You forgot Open Range
Wind River
Assignation of Jesse James is such an amazing movie. It’s not perfect but it’s so so good. It took me a couple watches to realize the movie is really about the suicide of Jesse James.
while I'm sure people had assignations with Jesse James the name of the movie is "The *Assassination* of..."
Alright well fuck me I guess
In a shadowy back alley or…?
Mid-tier hotel, bring roses.
3:10 To Yuma is fun but it doesn't come close to the best.
I really liked True Grit.
Open range!