The 10 Best Contemporary Westerns
With the upcoming Quentin Tarantino’s Western Django Unchained releasing on December 25th, why not have a look at the best movies of the genre made in the last twenty years or so.
Here are the films that did not make the cut for many reasons, but mainly because the ten others cited below were far greater achievements: Wild Bill, The Quick and the Dead (1995), Wyatt Earp, Rango, The Missing (2003), Tombstone, Once Upon A Time in Mexico, Open Range, Appaloosa, and of course Hidalgo.
10. Ride with the Devil
Set at the beginning of the Civil War in Missouri, Ride with the Devil is a lesser known Western that deserves much more recognition. One great news bit about this film is that it was released by the Criterion Collection a couple of years ago for our enjoyment. Plus it was directed by Ang Lee who also offered us the controversial masterpiece, Brokeback Mountain for which he received an Oscar for Best Director.
9. Desperado
If entertainment means everything for you when you are watching a movie I would suggest you watch Desperado. This is the film that introduced many of us to the sheer fun of Robert Rodriguez‘s films. Inspired by Sergio Leone’s Westerns and loaded with extra guns and lots of action, Desperado is a guy movie that even girls can enjoy.
8. Lone Star
A much under-estimated film directed by John Sayles at his best, this murder-mystery is set in Texas with Chris Cooper as the sheriff who’s looking for the murderer of his predecessor. Its 135 minutes will get you on the edge of your seat.
7. The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
It is not often that an actor of Tommy Lee Jones‘ talent can handle being in front and behind the camera at the same time and yet produce something that has this level of quality. Well, let’s say that he handled both jobs better than most who could only hold one of the two positions.
6. Meek’s Cutoff
Michelle Williams and Kelly Reichardt have been working together since Wendy and Lucy. Their brand of independent American Cinema is behind some of the most reinvigorating films to be made lately. The Western genre has always been a men’s genre so it is very refreshing to watch a story revolving around a female protagonist for a change. Especially when the protagonist is played by an actress of Michelle Williams caliber.
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16 Comments
Brilliant! I love westerns and when I saw your omissions I thought there must be a mistake because I think Open Range is a great film. Then I looked at your list and was amazed that there was no room for Open Range on the list. You have a couple of movies on the list that I haven’t seen yet, but I already own them so I will get to them soon. I love the addition of Lone Star which I think is far too unknown, and I would always put Unforgiven at number 1, but all around I love your list and your post. Thanks for putting westerns on my mind today!
Thank you Paul! Westerns aren’t as widely popular as they were, let’s say in the 1950′s. But the few ones made today are more than worth the look! I’m glad you liked the list and made you wanting to see more of them!
I’ve only seen three from this list: Desperado, 3:10 To Yuma and True Grit and I do like all three. I’m not very familiar w/ this genre, but now that I’ve looked at this list, there are a couple I’m curious to check out.
I recommend them! It is indeed a genre less popular in the last years.
Hey, where’s The Proposition? That is a great western. Bloody and just downright uncompromising in its imagery and landscape.
Sadly, I haven’t seen it. Maybe after a watch it’ll end up on the list…
Swell list, though I would personally make “Unforgiven” #1. I think it’s the best contemporary Western specifically because it actually critiques the myth of the Western as it goes along.
Nice to see some love for “Lone Star.” How great was McConaughey in that one?!
I knew that Unforgiven was gonna make some people react but I’m standing behind my #1!
Jesse James might be my favorite movie of last decade. Also, glad to see Three Burials here. That movie deserves a bigger following.
Yeah Three Burials definitely deserved its spot here!
Pretty much spot on, have seen 7 of the 10 on your list, and maybe I would’ve put Ride with the Devil a little higher in my listing. Jesse James is great choice for #1. Tough to come up with a top 10, I couldn’t get to the link to see the omissions so probably my 3rd or 4th favorite western would be The Missing, the 2003 western with Tommy Lee Jones.
Thanks!
For my list, I’d swap #1 and #2, I love love Unforgiven; it’s probably Eastwood’s greatest western. I watched the behind the scenes documentary and Eastwood thought that no one would want to see it after he finished editing it with his editor. As it turns out, it’s his biggest western film and of course won best picture at the Oscars.
It is one of Eastwood’s better films! The Oscars he earned were well deserved!
Could not agree more with your #1 pick. Assassination of Jesse James is easily one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen: a technically perfect film. Add to that excellent performances and rich subtext and there are few to beat it.
Although Unforgiven comes close.
Impressive that you have “Three Burials” on this list. That is a lost gem to be sure! And you are correct with your #1. Absolutely correct.
I am miffed at no mention of “Open Range” however. As for “The Proposition,” I like it, but I think it’s a tad overrated.
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