The Quick and the Dead 1994, Rated R Columbia/Tristar Home Video

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Starring Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman.

However, Stone turns in a decent performance, never once getting out of her chaps, in this new western directed by the always captivating Sam Raimi. Interestingly, although Stone has the lead, this film works more as an ensemble production, benefiting greatly from the solid contributions of Gene Hackman, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Russell Crowe.

The Quick and the Dead is the story of the fictional 19th century town of Redemption that sponsors an annual quick draw competition for any and all challengers courageous, or stupid, enough to enter. The last man, or woman, left standing, preferably while still alive, will take home a hundred odd thousand dollars. This movie follows the week during which one particular quick draw competition takes place. Sure we're interested in the gun play, Raimi managing to create all sorts of new viewer friendly techniques to have bad guys getting shot, but it's the stories behind the participants that truly intrigue us. Each character has a different reason for traveling to Redemption to duel and we learn of these motives and desires through different scenes and snippets of conversation here and there.

Stone is good as the heroine, but at times my appreciation for her character ran a little thin as she would occasionally emulate Kurt Russell's character in the Escape From New York and L.A. movies, Snake Pleskin, growling one word jibes, and whispering threats and appropriate social commentaries. Raimi doesn't allow much of this though, for he constantly jumps from character to character, hardly ever letting the viewer to grow tired of one individual or scene. Raimi deserves some kind of special award for his amazing style of direction; time and time again I was awed by his fantastically interesting and new spins on conventional ideas.

The part of the film making that most impressed me was the way in which we were able to see sunlight literally streaming through the bodies, limbs, and heads of different characters after they had been shot; for you golfers out there, we'll call this the 'hole-in-one' shot. The Quick and the Dead is an entertaining film with enough twists and turns to satisfy even the most critical viewer. If you haven't seen this one yet, look for it, you'll be glad you did.