The Quick and the Dead is one of those perfect movies where it combines the talent of those just on the cusp of making it big with those already there. Originally a Sharon Stone vehicle, TQATD attempts to capitalize on the sucess of Basic Instint and Sliver by showing the tough as nails femininity of Stone in a different genre.
The really great thing about this film is that so many of her co-stars are on their way up the Hollywood ladder while Stone is at her peak. After this the only thing her fans have left to look forward to is her milfy retread Basic Instinct 2. (Of course I'm completely ignoring her role in Casino in order to make my point here)
But look at who else is in this film. Sam Raimi, in his first directing gig post Army of Darkness, is clearly having a blast with a bigger budget film. He brings the same tongue in cheek sense of humour to the Western genre that he did to Horror by poking fun of the tired old motifs and making them his own. When Raimi cam meets Western style zoom ins good times will be had by all.
And the talent. Gene Hackman crustily barking his way through the entire thing. Russell Crowe in his biggest film to date and his first Hollywood outing. Leonardo DiCaprio three years out of Growing Pains and taking on adult roles. Cameos by Tobin Bell, Lance Henriksen and Gary Sinese showcase some solid actors who've got their best work ahead of them.
It doesn't hurt that I'm a sucker for a good Western and there are far worse cinematic travesties than watching Hackman chew up the scenery under Raimi's direction. There's no way you could gather all these names under the same tent today.
TQATD isn't a perfect film. You still have to put up with all the restrictions placed on it in order to prevent anyone from taking the attention away from Stone. And it feels a little cheesy sometimes as Raimi overuses some Western conventions. (Does it really have to rain everytime something really bad happens) But overall, for genre fans its got a lot of good things going for it and you'd be hard pressed to find a more energetic, creative Western.
P.S. After sitting through the travesty that was Prison Break this week I'm dropping this turkey like a phat beat on Saturday night. They're not even trying to keep the plot believable anymore. Stace and I spent the entire episode laughing our asses off at how cheesy the story was. Letting this show go won't be tough at all.
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