For A Few Dollars More

In all honesty, I'm not really a spaghetti fan, or a western film fan. Not surprisingly, I just have a hard time getting excited about Spaghetti Westerns. Spaghetti Westerns, are the famous Italian western films -- the term almost cannot be mentioned without referencing film director Sergio Leone.

Sergio Leone, is best known for that film Il Buono, Il Brutto, Il Cattivo, we know it as The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. I enjoy The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, but certainly don't love it. Not because I don't have the ability to acknowledge some of it's good qualities, but because frankly, it's just not my style of film.

Based on my lack of enthusiasm for The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, I've avoided - or rather haven't taken the time - for Leon's other classic films such as Once Upon A Time In The West, or A Fistful of Dollars. But in review of the films I hadn't seen on IMDB.com top 250 list this Leon-avoidance was causing me to miss some of the high ranked films, and when a friend recommended this film off the list, I decided I'd take the plunge.

Well - the verdict, I still struggle with the slow style of these films. Although, I enjoyed some of the subtle silliness in this film as well. There's something to me said for a film that has a main character that is simply known as The Man In Black (Lee Van Clef), and Clint Eastwood is always interesting in these films knowing the diversity of roles he would later play.

Yet, I struggle to call it one of the best, or at least one of the most enjoyable. I have to think it has to do with taste. I'm not sure what it takes for someone to love these western films? Is it watching them with their dad on the couch as a child. Is it a suffocation and appreciation for subtly that somehow I lack.

There is a few compelling scenes - of course, the role of the musical watches places a unique role in this film, and the set up of two rival bounty hunters is also a unique plot device. But for me, it's just not enough to get me excited. I tried though, I really did. I want to like these films, love them even. But it's a struggle. I might need to give Leon's other classics a try...or I might consider leaving them on the shelf for another day.