The Tonto Woman

As we approach the final countdown for the 80th annual Academy Awards, it's worth noting that 3:10 to Yuma isn't the only Western based on an Elmore Leonard short story among the nominees. While the two-fisted, straight-shooting drama starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale competes in the Original Score and Sound Mixing categories Sunday evening, an adaptation of Leonard's The Tonto Woman will be vying for the Live Action Short prize. You can see clips from the 35-minute flick here and here, and a trailer here.

Will 3:10 arrive even earlier?

First, Lionsgate announced that 3:10 to Yuma, originally set for an Oct. 5 release, would get pushed up for a Sept. 7 opening. Now there's word that the hard-edged Western starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale will get a national sneak preview in theaters throughout North America on Sept. 2. Gee, do you think this means Lionsgate is bullish on the movie's box-office prospects?

First rave for 3:10 to Yuma

Todd McCarthy of Variety, the showbiz bible, has weighed in with the first rave review for 3:10 to Yuma.

The verdict: "3:10 to Yuma is a tense, rugged redo of a film that was pretty good the first time around. Reinforced by a strong central premise, alert performances, a realistic view of the developing Old West and a satisfying dimensionality in its shadings of good and evil, James Mangold's remake walks a fine line in retaining many of the original's qualities while smartly shaking things up a bit." McCarthy waxes enthusiastic about the lead performances by Russell Crowe and Christian Bale -- and singles out for special praise "a wonderfully leathery characterization by Peter Fonda as a supremely tough old bounty hunter."

3:10 to Yuma opens Sept. 7 at theatres and drive-ins everywhere. You can read all about it in the October issue of Cowboys & Indians magazine, which hits newsstands Sept. 4 with a cover story on the eagerly awaited Western.

Poster posting

The marketing gurus at Lionsgate are taking a fairly nervy approach to their poster art for 3:10 to Yuma: No attempt to hide or even soft-pedal the fact that it's a Western, but no close-ups of top-billed Russell Crowe and Christian Bale. Instead, a dramatic rear-view of a supporting player -- Ben Foster as Charlie Prince, second-in-command to Crowe's outlaw chief -- in a sepia-toned illustration with a vaguely Sergio Leone-ish look. It's attention-grabbing, to be sure. But will it be audience-attracting?

'3:10' due 10/5

Director James Mangold (Walk the Line) tells USA Today that his upcoming remake of 3:10 to Yuma -- set open Oct. 5 at theaters and drive-ins everywhere -- will concentrate on characters, not cliches or conventions. And that, he claims, will set his effort apart from other recent attempts to revive the Western. "Too often," Mangold says, "they try to make every Western in one movie. It's all about the vistas. They don't lock into one person." Mangold's film actually will lock into two people: Christian Bale (above, left) as a reluctantly heroic rancher, and Russell Crowe (right) as a wily outlaw. They don't aim to please each other.