The Quick and the Dead [Blu-ray]

This western borrows many conventions from the films of Sergio Leone as it follows the exploits of a female gunslinger involved in a bloody quick-draw contest. Sharon Stone is the female version of "the man with no name." She rides back into her hometown of Redemption looking only for vengeance against Herod (Gene Hackman) the reigning gunslinger. Redemption is under the control of Herod, who uses his strong arm to keep the locals in line and takes 50 cents of every dollar. Every year there is a quick-draw competition in Redemption and while some come to make a name for themselves, or collect the money, Ellen is here to take out Herod. The rest is a series of standoffs, as contenders quickly fall away, revealing who the quickest really is. The colorful cast of characters includes: Kid (Leonardo DiCaprio) who is Herod's son and desperately trying to get out of his shadow, Cort (Russell Crowe), a killer turned preacher who Herod forces into the competition, and many others. Raimi was hand-picked by Stone to direct this spaghetti western and if anything is notable about this film, it's Raimi's contribution. The performances are all well done, despite the fact that Hackman can do this role in his sleep and Stone is trying way too hard to be tough; but this thin plot only carries so far, and it's Raimi's unique visuals that keep things interesting, even when they get ridiculous. More a remake of a Sergio Leone-style western than a darker update of the genre -- what most westerns made in the 90's tried to be -- this western has fun with itself and never really takes itself too seriously.