The Magnificent Seven
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Talent: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D’Onofrio
Release Date: 23rd September
Coming hot on the heels of the stupid and superfluous Ben Hur remake, Sony’s The Magnificent Seven rehash will have many fans of the classic Western rolling their eyes. The film’s “mercenaries protect a town” premise is of course familiar, with parodies and homages appearing through decades of film and television. And initially, this familiarity with the source material drags the new The Magnificent Seven down a great deal, as the film is particularly heavy-handed in its introduction of the key players.
Chris Pratt manages to charm the audience, but barely: we come around to him out of pity more than anything else. It is Denzel Washington who gives the standout performance here. The actor’s relationship with director Antoine Fuqua continues to deliver engaging and exhilarating action sequences. As such, The Magnificent Seven comes together in its final act. When the bullets start flying, the film begins to look artful and confident. The violence builds to a Peckinpah-ish crescendo of noise and debris that will leave a lasting impression and elevates this reworking of a genre staple beyond any initial misgivings or low expectations.
Words: Luke Maxwell
