Sharon Stone leads the way in this Western film centered around a dueling competition happening in an isolated desert town somewhere in the Southwest. The settlement is under the control of outlaw Herod, portrayed by Gene Hackman. A preacher who prefers peace is compelled to join the contest by Herod, and he’s anything but your typical religious figure—Russell Crowe takes on this role. Also appearing are Leonardo DiC…

I first experienced this film in theaters back in 1995 and had completely erased it from my memory – until I watched it again recently and understood why. It’s not terrible, but its reliance on familiar tropes is striking, and Gene Hackman's performance as "Herod" teeters precariously between intimidation and over-the-top acting without ever fully convincing. He orchestrates a deadly competition involving gunplay—res…

It’s a commendable effort from Raimi, though it barely manages to rise above mediocrity. The Western is an especially difficult genre to revive today, particularly considering the high bar set by films like *Dances With Wolves* and *Unforgiven*. However, overcoming those hurdles seems minor compared to what director Sam Raimi asks of viewers in his attempt at this style of film. A female gunslinger appears, po…