The Quick and the Dead

Most of the actors are wonderful here, understanding that beyond the seriousness of the subject matter, the movie is really a comic book come to life, and should be imbued with a sense of fun. Hackman and DiCaprio (the Kid) give the best performances. The former is evil personified, fully relishing his role as the object of everyone's hatred, and knowing that he can crush the town like a bug if he chose to. The latter is brimming with youthful ego and energy, sure of his gunplay but tormented by his misidentity. Russell Crowe is also good as the brooding Cort. He is an actor of such visceral intensity that he could go through an entire film without saying a word, and you'd still be sure that he was a serious badass. Also good, in smaller parts, are Lance Henriksen and Keith David as arrogant gunslingers, and Gary Sinise as Ellen's father in flashback. His scenes are emotional and painful to watch, but quite central to the movie's themes.

Sharon Stone, well, what to say about her. Her overacting renders her bland. I guess the best impression I can give you about her performance is that, even though she is the central character and the above-the-title star, when I think of this movie I always forget that she's even in it. At least she doesn't get in the way of the other actors. That says it all, I suppose.

Anyone who's familiar with Sam Raimi's early work (the 'Evil Dead' films come directly to mind) will recognize his distinctive visual style. It's like Sergio Leone on acid. His camera moves this way and that, in a very kinetic and addictively campy manner. He gives you camera angles and shots that few others would dare to try (the famous bullet's-eye-view shot as it travels through a gunfighter's eye socket comes readily to mind). It's his directing that elevates this movie above the standard spaghetti western rip-off. He makes it great fun.


"Campy Shoot-em-up Western that's just flat fun to watch!"   August 27, 2000
Jerry Parks (Lexington, KY USA)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Let me make sure I understand...a shoot-out 'tournament' with an old-west setting....why didn't someone think of this before?

This is just a great flick to watch. It's 10% 'camp', and 90% action. Gene Hackman is the only legitimate highly-skilled actor in the action, but the script is so good it makes even Sharon Stone and Leonardo deCaprio look good in thier roles. Gary Sinese and Russell Crowe are great, though Sinese's role is minor.

The zooming cinematography, and the sub-theme of a little girl traumatized keep the plot on the roll! Killing is done with little or no thought to the value of human life, so screen the kids. DeCaprio's death scene will wrench the heart of every teenage girl.

The film is strange at times, and the performances are nearly as methodical as characters from Batman, but it all works. Good does triumph, and there is enough explosion at the conclusion to satisfy the hard-core sensation freaks, so the hour and a half never drags.

I liked this film--even if the plot is as unbelieveable as the fact that Sharon Stone has a great performance!


A Wester Whoop of a good time (is that cornball or what?)   August 29, 1999
iggipoo@hotmail.com (California, U.S. of A.)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

The other night, after seeing "A Simple Plan", I decided I had to see the other Raimi movie that I'd somehow missed when it originally came out. "The Quick and the Dead" was absolutely great. Unlike the previously aforementioned film (in which the director was far more reserved, and perhaps - dare I say - more refined), this was Raimi unleashed, the spurs thrown off of him (no pun intended). The shots were amazing... I'm referring to the film shots, not the gun shots (which were also pretty keen). There is simply no way to describe some of those camera angles. The action was sharp, swift, and relentless. Sharon Stone was great... the "dark lone stranger coming to town". It was refreshing to see a woman in this role. And Leanardo was actually bearable. Honest. I couldn't believe it. But I have to warn you. This film is not for everyone. Some of the violence can be shocking, some of the sequences absurd,... and,... well, if you're not used to Mr. Raimi's visual flare, it may not be your cup of tea. But I loved it. And darn tootin', that's what counts.


A Classic 90's Western More Gunslingin' With Superbit!   April 4, 2008
Eric Ericson (Venice, Florida USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

The Quick And The Dead
[Superbit Version]
(8.5/10)

Back in 1995, director Sam Raimi was at a bit of a crossroads.
After his accomplishments through the Evil Dead series, yet
not yet to his A Simple Plan/Spider-Man level, he made
this fast paced Western that in alot of way feels like both
time periods of himself. However, this Western plays differently
than most revenge types, with a secret woman (played
amazingly well by Sharon Stone) joining in a town's shoot-out
competition with the intent of seeking revenge on the town's leader (played by Gene Hackman, just on the over-the-top edge). Along the way, we meet alot of the town's faces, including future stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe, as well as character classics as Tobin Bell & Lance Henriksen just to name a few. Simply put, this is a great cast for a movie with the then "Evil Dead" guy. But it works. Well.

While considering 90's Westerns like The Unforgiven & Dances With Wolves to be more classy & important than this flix, it definitely holds it's own, fitting perfectly with say Tombstone or Silverado. Yet this flix probably gets less attention than any of them, and it shouldn't. If you missed Sam's classic camera-in-your-face angles, or his quick as lightning cuts, he didn't lose them here. The showdowns are intense, visual, and the audio mix superb. And though Stone lost what little credibility a long time ago, this movie showed she could be taken seriously as an actress, fully dressed even!

Many have seen this play over the years on cable, but
the true way to see it is on this Superbit version. While this
release was done back in 2003, it's picture and DTS audio is
miles ahead of it's inferior single-layered original disc. Colors
bright & rusty, sound full of body, and bit rate always at
the fullest. I guess my only complaint is that they really didn't
try to remaster the actual print first due to a few, a few, blemishes on the print here and there that the high bit rate only brings out more. But believe me, for now I can say I've never seen this movie this good.

Downside is that this movie has alot of deleted scenes including a romance between Stone & Crowe & a wedding with Bruce Campbell as the minister! Too bad cause the Superbit, nor the regular, has them & International cuts only included the romance in the movie. So, I'd probably buy it again for a Raimi Director Cut, which after seeing the movie, you'd probably agree.

A good, fast-paced, 90's style Western that doesn't ever slow down. Featuring a female hero that you could actually believe in, as well as a cast that looks like they're in good hands with a director that finally got to do a Western with a little visual flair. A good movie that deserves to be seen & in your collection.


Not Thr Complete Film   August 4, 2008
R. Nuskey (Barnegat, NJ USA)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

It"s a shame that you cannot purchase an American copy of this American film in America. I had to send to Austrailia for a copy [ must be viewed on region-free player] that is complete. Europeans and Austrailians can see the complete movie but not us.
The love scene between Ellen and Cort is vital to connect the action in the first half of the movie with the second. We see Ellen's flight from the town of Redemption but not her return, nor do we see what caused the change of attitude between them. One moment we hear of her indifference to what happens to Cort and the next they are conspiring together to avoid killing one another.
Cutting a sexy scene out of a R-rated film is ridiculous especially one vital to the understanding of the movie. Since Sharon Stone is both star and producer of this film,I would hope she would try to restore one of her best movies. No work on the film is required, just the release of the foreign edition in America. With many films being released on DVD in several versions there is nothing unusual about that.
As far as the film is concerned. the great disparity in the reviews is explained by whether the reviewer likes this kind of western or not. I do, and i liked this film very much. Besides, how many films have a cast like this; Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman [always a great villian], Lance Hendrikseb, Pat Hingle, not to mention Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio just before their big breaks. Let's hope for a complete DVD.