Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & II • August 10, 2011 The Old West meets outer space in new film by Dennis Seuling Movies are great for bringing to life a bygone era and imagining worlds of the future. “Cowboys and Aliens” does both, drawing upon the Western and science fiction genres in an action-packed yarn that shows what happens when a group of cowboys, bank robbers, and Indians in 1870s Arizona Territory encounter alien invaders. The concept has been tapped in earlier cinematic efforts, such as “2001: A Space Odyssey,” when the mysterious rectangular metal object appears to prehistoric apes, or in “Time After Time,” when Jack the Ripper travels through time from Victorian England to modern-day America. The plot device sets up unique conflicts and causes characters to act in unexpected ways. The title “Cowboys and Aliens” pretty much sums up the story. Eventually, cowboys will have to confront strange visitors at a time when little is known about life in remote areas of Earth, let alone beyond. As the movie opens, a man (Daniel Craig) awakens in the desert. He has wounds and a metal gizmo around his left wrist. Try as he might, he cannot remove the device, nor can he remember much about the past, even his name. The early part of the film introduces an assortment of stereotypes: big-time rancher Woodrow Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford), whose land and wealth make him feared; his cowardly son Percy (Paul Dano), whose dangerous antics Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig combat visitors from outer space in ‘Cowboys & Aliens.’ regularly terrorize the townsfolk; the loyal ranch foreman (Adam Beach); a timid barkeep (Sam Rockwell); and a sheriff (Keith Carradine) torn between his duty and fear of Dolarhyde. The locals soon encounter low-flying objects that blast at the people who are standing dumbstruck on the town’s main street. Many are killed, but others are plucked from the ground and drawn into the soaring machines. During the chaos, the amnesiac learns he is Jake Lonergan, a wanted bank robber, and that the metal bracelet can fire a charge powerful enough to down one of the craft. The invasion results in the unlikely alliance among Dolarhyde, Lonergan, assorted citizens of the town, and eventually a local tribe of Indians and a gang of robbers who pool their resources in an attempt to vanquish the invaders and learn what happened to those who were kidnapped. “Cowboys and Aliens” is much better than its title suggests. Director Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”) plays it straight and takes his time setting up the human characters. Though they fit the mold of tried-and-true Western movie types, they do have distinctive personalities. Craig’s Lonergan is a combination of Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name and his own James Bond: spare with words, swift with action, able to face the most overwhelming odds with cool detachment, and ever suspicious of others’ motives. He takes on the invaders as Matt Dillon used to on “Gunsmoke.” Ford’s Dolarhyde is a well-drawn character. Knowing Percy failed to inherit his strength and drive, he strives to protect his son, always hoping Percy will one day become a man. By contrast, his foreman Nat is everything he wishes his son would be, yet Dolarhyde treats Nat merely as a hired hand. When the audience first sees Dolarhyde, he has a man tied to two horses, ready to be torn in half because he can’t explain how his herd of cattle was wiped out. Later, viewers see a conscience and dedication to help to confront the unknown invaders, if only to protect what he has earned. Dano (“There Will Be Blood”) is effective in a small but important scene showing the sharp contrast between father and son. One has worked and struggled for what he has, the other has led the life of a pampered rich boy, flaunting his name to intimidate people. Dano conveys nervousness, uncertainty, and underlying fear with a veneer of bravado. “Cowboys and Aliens” is unique in overall plot, but familiar in the details: unlikely parties joining forces in a common goal, testing a person’s mettle, acting courageously in an emergency, and overpowering the enemy. Director Favreau makes two wise choices, both of which are omissions. First, he doesn’t attempt to explain who or what the invaders are. The characters would have no inkling as to their origin, and this would only be a blind alley that would generate needless exposition. Second, with the exception of some amazed expressions, Favreau keeps the action going and doesn’t spend a lot of time with scenes of panic. Rated PG-13 for fairly tame violence, “Cowboys and Aliens” is a clever, occasionally amusing action picture perfect for the summer. It offers star power with Craig and Ford, a snappy tale of a clash of past and future, some nastylooking aliens, and plenty of gunfire.