Looking very much like a Dirty Harry Western, Clint Eastwood portrays yet another laconic, no nonsense gunman playing both sides of a land dispute until he determines which side is more diabolical. I could be wrong, but I don't think anyone could maintain Joe Kidd's (Eastwood) calm demeanor in virtually every situation, especially with a gun right in your face, but I guess that's why his characters were always so cool. Sure would like to remain that stoic in a pressure situation.
Say, talk about war on women, did you catch Luis Chama's (John Saxon) explanation to Helen Sanchez (Stella Garcia) on why he keeps her around? For cold nights and when there's nothing better to do, and not to hear her talk. Wow, can you just hear Gloria Steinem going ballistic with that one back in the day? Actually, the role of Chama's woman seemed to be oddly attracted to Joe Kidd whenever he was around as if to tease a relationship of sorts, so the viewer needs to make up their own mind on that score.
You know, it's interesting to see Robert Duvall as a villain, he's pretty much the ultimate bad guy here but never quite allowing his hands to get dirty unless push came to shove. Quite distinctly different from his Boss Spearman character in "Open Range" which I enjoyed a lot, and one of my favorite Westerns. I'd have to say he's one of my favorite modern day actors along with Eastwood, and between them they have over a century of staying power in film.
So it's not one of the best Westerns ever made, but fans of the principals should come away fairly satisfied with this one. Some of the situations defy credibility, like Joe knocking out a henchman with a swinging cauldron, but you have to admit it was pretty creative. As was driving a train smack through a saloon. I'm pretty sure the barkeep regretted opening his joint on a Sunday.
Say, talk about war on women, did you catch Luis Chama's (John Saxon) explanation to Helen Sanchez (Stella Garcia) on why he keeps her around? For cold nights and when there's nothing better to do, and not to hear her talk. Wow, can you just hear Gloria Steinem going ballistic with that one back in the day? Actually, the role of Chama's woman seemed to be oddly attracted to Joe Kidd whenever he was around as if to tease a relationship of sorts, so the viewer needs to make up their own mind on that score.
You know, it's interesting to see Robert Duvall as a villain, he's pretty much the ultimate bad guy here but never quite allowing his hands to get dirty unless push came to shove. Quite distinctly different from his Boss Spearman character in "Open Range" which I enjoyed a lot, and one of my favorite Westerns. I'd have to say he's one of my favorite modern day actors along with Eastwood, and between them they have over a century of staying power in film.
So it's not one of the best Westerns ever made, but fans of the principals should come away fairly satisfied with this one. Some of the situations defy credibility, like Joe knocking out a henchman with a swinging cauldron, but you have to admit it was pretty creative. As was driving a train smack through a saloon. I'm pretty sure the barkeep regretted opening his joint on a Sunday.