Valdez Is Coming

Rating:
Summary: This is a great unassuming film--and Elmore Leonard wrote it
Review: I've always enjoyed Burt Lancasters work, and I like his more recent stuff the best, with the exception of Elmer Gantry! This is a great underdog movie--the low-profile good guy being pushed around by the arrogant big-bucks villian. But Bob Valdez has a past. Especially great is Barton Heymann as El Segundo--an old San Francisco Mime Troupe veteran who I have never seen in another movie. This one deserves checking out

Rating:
Summary: Lancaster at his Best
Review: This almost has the flavor of the later versions of spaghetti westerns. The environment is hot dessert and dusty. Love snow so this always impresses me. The character of Valdez appeals to me because of a portrayal of steadfastness and a man of principal and rock hard sense of justice. Lancaster's image of an aging wise cowboy caught my fancy years and years ago when I first saw this film. I bought it in VHS and then later the DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Missing minutes
Review: This really was a good film when it first came out. It
could also have been a good film as a DVD release. But
it falls short. The reason is that this edition is missing
approximately 20 minutes from the theatrical release. If
you watch the credits, you will see the names of stars who
do not appear in this film. Also, part of the reasoning
behind Valdez leaving his days behind as a peaceful man,
and returning to his glory days as a sharpshooter and scout
are largely lost in the missing minutes. It is a jumpy film
that seems uneven due to the missing minutes. There is no
reason why the film should hsve been cut, but it was. And
as a result is a butchered film. I would not waste money on
it again.

Rating:
Summary: Different kind of western
Review: This western morality play sneaks up on you as a leisurely-paced yet gripping tale of strong individual principle against cruel power. It gets more interesting with each scene. Burt Lancaster gives a nicely understated performance as an ineffectual Mexican 'lawman' who decides to revisit his soldierly past when a land baron humiliatingly refuses his request for $100 to compensate a widowed Indian. I found this a tough, believable, unconventional western and would not be surprised it if influenced Clint Eastwood in his classic 'Unforgiven.' 'Valdez is Coming' is almost an anti-western by Hollywood standards. It's not a world you'd want to step into.

Rating:
Summary: Mythology of the Aging Western Hero
Review: With the frontier vanishing and the days of rough justice for the bank robbers, cattle rustlers and hired gunmen all but gone emerges Burt Lancaster as Bob Valdez for one last stand against those who would challenge the sanctity of righteousness, the basis of law. This film is a brilliant study methodically told about an aging Mexican-American lawman that will not be deterred on bringing a self-righteous land baron to justice. Lancaster breaks his own acting mold with his ultra stoic performance of the dedicated Valdez, a man who doesn't stop coming. The forgotten and brilliant actor Frank Silvera plays his self-sacrificing friend Diego who will do almost anything to help him in his quest. This film examines the limits of duty, loyalty and friendship. Is the fight worth fighting to the end? Richard Jordan, Hector Elizondo and Susan Clark all have well scripted and defined roles.