The story felt disorienting, and I confess I was too at times. There’s a viewpoint among some dedicated Eastwood fans that Joe Kidd possesses more significance than its general perception allows, insisting it isn't as low-ranking among his Westerns as online ratings indicate. The simple fact is, considering the involvement of Eastwood himself, Robert Duvall and John Saxon in supporting roles, direction by John Sturges, and a script from Elmore Leonard, one would expect a considerably stronger result. The film quickly introduces Eastwood portraying Joe Kidd, a gunslinger/bounty hunter who becomes entangled in assisting a rich landowner and his men to pursue a Mexican revolutionary leader—apparently over some dispute concerning land.... But as he joins the group tracking him, Kidd discovers a conflict of interest, and soon choosing sides becomes just one of many complications. I can’t share the enthusiasm of those who champion this film as an unfairly overlooked gem. It progresses slowly through a confusing screenplay that is quite bare in terms of its story, and ultimately it doesn't deliver on character development by the end. The writing does a disservice to Duvall’s role, Saxon seems ill-suited for his part, and these are just some of the things that might frustrate viewers. Still, there are some clever lines in the dialogue, Bruce Surtees’ cinematography of the locations is remarkable, and Eastwood's presence remains compelling enough to keep you engaged. The action sequences are competently staged, including a memorable climax involving a train used as a destructive force, and there are some interesting weapons on display. However, it seems like more depth should have been present, and the film’s length of just an hour and twenty minutes suggests that perhaps thirty extra minutes could have improved it. 6/10

Source on TMDB