If Westerns are an acquired taste, or at least a flavour that doesn't appeal to everyone, then Silverado is the best asset the genre could hope for. It’s definitely an example of how a film – if really well made – can rise above its genre and appeal to people of all sorts. Here's a Western that appeals to aficionados, those who haven't seen a whole lot of cowboy movies, and even those who long ago learned to dislike them. It's exciting. It's fun. It doesn't take itself too seriously. It almost makes you want to jump on a horse and hit the trail yourself. And that’s the impression of a person who isn’t automatically sympathetic to films featuring cowpokes, cattle rustlin’ and gunfights.
Sure, there are good guys and bad guys here, horses and plenty of shooting, barroom brawls and time spent around the campfire. These are the staples of Hollywood's version of America’s old West. For those who roll their eyes at the thought of a Western, these are not appealing images. But it’s not the images that are the real problem for many Western-haters; it’s the seemingly endless clichés that go with them. And what sets Silverado apart – making it a breath of fresh air for the genre – is how it’s got all the usual Western window dressing, but characters and a story less laden with cliché and more loaded with authenticity.
Look at the low-key way Silverado’s heroes become heroes. This isn't a gang of self-important gunslingers out to save the world. It's just four men thrown together entirely by circumstance. Each of them has had a raw deal one way or another: an innocent man who's spent years in jail, a black man who's encountered violent racism and so on. These are good guys, and they're also pretty handy with their guns. Stereotypes sort of, but not really, as they’re more well rounded than simple stereotypes.
Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Danny Glover and Kevin Costner play the good guys, each headed to the town of Silverado, although for various reasons. All four bump up against nasty lawmen (principally those played by John Cleese and Brian Dennehy) and the henchmen of a rather aggressive rancher who isn't keen on others coming (even if it’s done legally, of course) to farm the rangeland he's used exclusively for a long time.
In Silverado, we witness numerous jailbreaks, chases and narrow escapes, as the four eventually join up to face the bad guys together. What makes Lawrence Kasdan’s (Body Heat, The Big Chill) film really work is his ability to deliver old-style action while also planting a tongue firmly in cheek and appealing to fans of intelligent cinema. The script – written by Kasdan and his brother Mark – is smart and entertaining, and the acting is consistently strong.
Although he doesn't play a particularly large part in the film’s success, it's nice to see Kevin Costner not taking himself too seriously, and Danny Glover and Kevin Kline are both very credible. The supporting cast is filled with a quirky array of talent, with skilled actors ranging from Cleese to Linda Hunt and Rosanna Arquette contributing to Silverado's success.
If you like Westerns, you'll love Silverado, which was credited upon its 1985 release with having injected new life into the genre. If you've never seen one you've liked, then it's time to open your mind and give it a try. If you still feel that way after seeing this one, then there's no hope.
If you've never seen a Western you liked, then it's time to open your mind and give Silverado a try. If you still feel that way after seeing it, then there's no hope.- Brian Webster
