“Silverado,” released in 1985, is a lively and entertaining Western centered around two brothers (played by Scott Glenn & Kevin Costner) and two other men (Kevin Kline & Danny Glover) who join forces to confront the corrupt sheriff of Silverado, New Mexico. When I first saw "Silverado" years ago, I was put off by an unbelievable prison escape early on, plus what seemed like a silly portrayal of Costner’s character. There's a sense of unreality about it, almost like something out of “Indiana Jones” (1981), which makes sense since writer/director Lawrence Kasdan also wrote that film. You have to overlook the unrealistic heroics to appreciate the story—essentially a complex exploration of human experiences such as injustice, action, drama, comedy, and conflict. I mention this because viewers who prefer more realistic Westerns like "Shane" (1953), “True Grit” (1969/2010), "The Long Riders" (1980), "Unforgiven" (1992) or "Wyatt Earp" (1994) might need to adjust their expectations. "Silverado" is a spirited Western with a lot of energy. While there are some moral ambiguities—like those involving Jeff Goldblum’s character and Paden's situation—the heroes are generally heroic, and the villains are clearly evil. One thing I appreciate about “Silverado,” which is often missing in later Westerns, is its sense of vitality, freedom, and joy that the main characters and their friends share. Despite facing various hardships, they maintain a zest for life and an appreciation for liberty. This makes it an uplifting film rather than a depressing one. Brian Dennehy delivers a truly frightening performance as the swaggering, corrupt sheriff of Silverado; his role is even more intense than his portrayal of a sheriff in "First Blood" (1982). Kevin Kline shines as Paden, portraying a likable and relatable everyman. Glenn embodies the classic Westerner as Emmett, while Costner plays his younger, enthusiastic brother, Jake. Costner’s performance differs noticeably from his roles in films like “Dances with Wolves” (1990), "Wyatt Earp" and "Open Range" (2003). Here he's youthful and energetic, full of humor, yet also a skilled and dangerous gunslinger. After a somewhat clumsy start, “Silverado” finds its rhythm, and I was engrossed in the story until about 70 to 75 minutes in. From that point on, however, the plot becomes tangled, though it culminates in an extended gunfight in town. The sheer number of characters makes it difficult to follow everything, and it seems like some scenes were cut, which would have helped with the film's runtime of just over two hours (133 minutes). Subplots involving Rosanna Arquette, Jeff Goldblum, and Linda Hunt are examples of this. However, a positive aspect is that the story isn’t shallow; therefore, it’s worth watching again to fully grasp everything, as you likely won't catch all the details in a single viewing. A more complex narrative like this would benefit from at least 2.5 hours to breathe and be truly effective, similar to the length of “Dances with Wolves.” Regarding those subplots, I enjoyed Kline’s affection for the midget saloon bartender (Linda Hunt), which was presented as a paternal love, though it wasn't fully developed. You have to read between the lines. I also valued the loyalty and affection among the four main characters; Glover’s character being Black isn’t an issue at all. Love, in its purest form, is spiritual and transcends things like race or physical attraction. It's remarkable how you can connect with someone unexpectedly and form a deep bond. So why not a higher grade? I didn't find the story as captivating as Kasdan's “Grand Canyon” (1991). The last hour felt like a struggle to stay engaged, especially while trying to keep track of all the characters and what was happening. There’s also some awkward editing, obvious missing scenes, and a few implausible moments. Despite these flaws, "Silverado" has almost everything you'd want in a Western: gunfights, quick draws, smoky saloons, saloon girls, homesteaders, wagon trains, outlaws, posses, jailbreaks, stampedes, box canyons, beautiful Western landscapes—it’s almost too much. The only things it lacks are Native Americans and a straightforward plot. That explains why you don't often see "Silverado" on lists of the best Westerns. The film was shot entirely in New Mexico. GRADE: C+

Source on TMDB