'The Magnificent Seven' Film Review
'The Magnificent Seven' tells the story of seven gunmen in the old west who gradually come together to defend a poor village against savage thieves.
Without comparing this adaptation to the original film, ‘The Magnificent Seven’ is merely an 'okay seven’ for cinema-goers and film buffs. Unfortunately, it was a mere blip in a year that provided few exciting films at all, let alone many of worth.
Though it boasts a well-rounded cast of diverse backgrounds, the story fails its onscreen talent, disengaging its audience in the process. Without an effective screenplay or storyline, the film staggers and its otherwise talented actors struggle to engage and entertain.
The dialogue is an issue in this film, its awkward phrasing and jokes often landing flat. Surprisingly, this was especially evident in Chris Pratt’s character Josh Faraday. Pratt, who got his big break in the popular comedy series 'Parks and Recreation' as the loveable Andy Dwyer, appeared forced into the action archetype, whereby he was given little freedom to express his comedic talent. Perhaps this was Pratt’s professional decision in an attempt to move away from being typecast in the comedy genre, expanding his portfolio as a serious actor. Though with successful hits like ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ‘Jurassic Park’ under his belt which nurture his knack to balance both ideals, the viewer is left wondering whether this film was the best choice for Pratt.
Denzel Washington however is a blessing to the film, easily slipping into the role of leader to a rag-tag group. However, while Washington remains charismatic, other characters forge themselves as forgettable – again, due to the poor script rather than the actors themselves.
Unusually, the genre itself is conveyed awkwardly throughout. It's not like there isn't a place for westerns in modern society, as Quentin Tarantino proved with the successful 'Django Unchained', which was both a hit at the box office but also in terms of its writing as well. What 'The Magnificent Seven' fails to do is bring anything new to the table - playing into previously attempted ideas, and shaping itself as mindless entertainment full of genre clichés that have been seen way too many times before.
With improvements to its script and overall storyline, ‘The Magnificent Seven’ could have been a smash hit. Its cinematography is of a high quality, while the film’s mise-en-scene and costumes were consistent for the period being captured.
Overall, it is a visually appealing film, backed by a (typically) strong cast of actors who appear to struggle with a less-than-impressive script.
'The Magnificent Seven' is available to buy on BluRay and DVD on 20th December 2016 in the U.K. and 30th December 2016 in Australia.
