Quartile rating: 7/10 · 2 ratings
Four unwitting heroes cross paths on their journey to the sleepy town of Silverado. Little do they know the town where their family and friends reside has been taken over by a corrupt sheriff and a murderous posse. It's up to the sharp-shooting foursome to save the day, but first they have to break each other out of jail, and learn who their real friends are.
Silverado is a handsomely mounted, affectionate revival of the classic Hollywood Western with a strong ensemble cast (Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Danny Glover, Kevin Costner) delivering energetic performances. The plot is straightforward and somewhat episodic — four strangers unite against a corrupt lawman — hitting familiar genre beats without much subversion. Cinematography by John Bailey captures the New Mexico landscapes competently but doesn't quite reach the iconic visual poetry of the genre's greatest entries. Novelty is limited; Kasdan's film is essentially a loving homage to the classic Western rather than a reinvention, borrowing liberally from genre conventions. The climactic showdown resolves satisfyingly if predictably. A fun, crowd-pleasing Western but not a genre landmark.