Released: March 2018
Director: Mark Landre Gould
Rated R
Run Time: 99 Minutes
Distributor: Lionsgate Studios
Genre: Western/Drama
Cast:
Lance Henriksen: Taylon
Tom Berenger: Will
Danny Trejo: River Man
Billy Lush: Virgil
Meg Steedle: Heidi
Steve Railsback: Jaden
For the past 70 years, the idea of the American Western has taken on a kind of mythic quality. For decades, kids as young as 4 would play “Cowboys and Indians” in their back yard or in a nearby park. Even if you had never actually seen a Western, you had an idea of what was in one, i.e cowboys and Indians. That idea had permeated the Western for god knows how long. The thing is, and I bring this up almost every time I review a Western, is that the Western is so much more than just cowboys, Indians, gun fights in saloons, and John Wayne. Those are all parts of a Western, but they don’t necessarily define it. I’ve said this multiple times: What makes a good Western is not just a good story, but having a realistic setting and strong characters to drive that story. It doesn’t need to be action-packed. Often, the best Westerns aren’t action-packed. Some of them are really good dramas. Also, in the past decade or so, we’ve seen the Western combined with science-fiction as well as comedy and horror. The Western can be as versatile as any other genre and it doesn’t even have to take place during the 1800s. Dirty Harry is a perfect example. Star Wars is another. Yes: Star Wars is a Western set in another galaxy. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a bit of a resurgence in the genre with films like Hostiles, Appaloosa, Seraphim Falls, and Bone Tomahawk. Some people believe that the Western is dead. It really isn’t. It’s making a comeback. Gone Are The Days is the latest film in the genre.
The film opens on an ailing old outlaw, Taylon, as he seems to be spending his last days on his run-down ranch. Realizing that he doesn’t have a lot of time left in the world, he wants to try and make things right with the daughter he gave up so many years ago, Heidi. Discovering that she’s working in a brothel, Taylon wants nothing more than to get her out of that life, but to do so, he has to get past the local sheriff, Will, who also seems to be a part of Taylon’s past. The story is simple, but it does take on a bit of a psychological edge, as Taylon talks to people that may or may not be a figment of his imagination. This gives the film and character a unique angle: Taylon is physically deteriorating and his mind isn’t far behind, so it makes sense that he could be hallucinating. The character’s struggle to find his daughter is not only compelling, but it is fairly well-written. Unfortunately, the film does suffer from some pacing issues, because it is a slow-burner of a Western. If you’re looking for an action film, look elsewhere. There are moments when the film does seem to drag on a bit, but that’s a fairly minor quibble. I wouldn’t say that the film is as good as Hostiles, story-wise, but it is a much smaller and more intimate kind of Western, so it works on a smaller scale. It’s a more personal kind of story.
Acting-wise, the film is mostly great. Lance Henriksen is a living legend. This guy has been in some of the biggest movies in the past 40 years. He’s worked in almost every genre that the industry has to offer, whether it’s science fiction, horror, or action. He’s an excellent character actor, and his performance in Gone Are The Days is phenomenal. Whenever this guy’s name is on the box art or poster, I tend to pay attention, because I know that he puts everything into every role that he’s done, whether or not the movie itself is any good. This is also not his first Western, either. He’s been a few. Tom Berenger is also fantastic, and he’s not a typical villain. In fact, his character tends to be very likable in spite of his past and Berenger really gives the character a decent amount of humanity and respect. The real villain of the film is Jaden, the guy played by Steve Railsback. The moment you see this guy, you automatically hate him. The character is a nasty viper of a man who runs a bar and the brothel where Heidi is forced to work. The lovely Meg Steedle plays Heidi, Taylon’s estranged daughter, and she does a really good job with what she’s given. She’s not really a damsel in distress, but she is someone who is in over her head. Danny Trejo’s performance as the crazy River Man is fantastic, despite his lack of screen time. That brings me to a couple of issues here: One: Danny Trejo is given pretty significant billing despite only being in the film for about 5 minutes. Steve Railsback goes a little too over-the-top with his character. I’m not necessarily blaming Steve here, but the way the character was written, you might as well have slapped a mustache on him and have him twirl it.
The film saves the gun fight until towards the end of the film, and it’s not terrible. It’s fairly short, to the point, and not overly complicated. It is pretty violent, but it also comes to a conclusion that not is not only satisfying but also very emotional. It’s one of the best ways to cap off a movie. I won’t spoil it, but it was an ending that was earned. Some of the cinematography was pretty good as everything was mostly shot on location, so you have some pretty decent scenery in there. The costumes and set designs were right out of the late 19th century, so there’s a level of authenticity that is very much appreciated. While Gone Are The Days suffers from a few glaring issues, it is by no means a bad film. It’s still a pretty good Western, but it’s also a drama that has quite a bit of heart to it. Lance Henriksen has proved yet again that he is one of the greatest actors that doesn’t get enough credit for his accomplishments. The guy is pushing 80 and he’s got 11 more movies on the way. He’s clearly a guy that really enjoys his job and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down. He’ll keep doing this until he can’t. I can’t wait to see more from him. As far Westerns go, Gone Are The Days isn’t what I would consider one of the greatest, but it is a pretty decent little film in its own right. It’s definitely worth renting at least.
My Final Recommendation: You’re never too old for one last ride. 7.5/10