[LastFilmIWatched]TwoMulesforSisterSara(1970)6.3/10

DonSiegelandClintEastwood’ssecondcollaborationjocouselyteamsEastwoodx27;sLeone-squesoldier-of-fortuneHogan(scarcelychanginghisapparelandparaphernaliafromLeone’sDollarsTrilogy)withShirleyMacLaine’ssisterSaraagainstanextensivewesternlandscape,tofightforagoodcause,aidingMexico’sJuaristarebelstoassailthecolonialFrencharmyduring1860s.Let’sjustturnablindeyeontheself-consciousrevisioniststanceaboutcolonialism,themoviex27;sappealisrightonitsgamewhenconjuringuptheoddpairingofadevoutnunandacynicalatheist,fromaskin-baringintroductionofSara,onthepointofbeinggang-raped,totherevealofhervotaryattirewhichamusinglytakesHoganaback,untiltheysoftentheirdiscrepancyandclearlyHoganissweptoffhisfeetbyherprimbutvaliantdefiance.Andthecunningmachinationtokeepalidontherealidentityofaheart-of-goldSaraiswell-wroughtthroughherunfeignedpietyanddevotion(includingaChristianburialforherassaulters),butSiegelslylyleavessmallcluestoinsinuatethereissomethingiffyintrain-Sara’ssecretivecigar-smokingandsheapparentlymakesnobonesaboututteringoneparticularprofaneword-tokeepaudienceintrigued,andMs.MacLainemakesSaraaballsyheroinethroughandthrough,shewillsoonproactivelyreturnthefavortosaveEastwood’sperpetuallysquintingHogan,notoncebuttwice,andsuccessfullypullsthewooloverhis(andour)eyesasahardened,trestle-climbingpartisanwhoisoff-limitstonomanbutGodhimself.Alas,whatthefilm(predictablyyetregretfully)failstomakerightistheill-treatmentoftheMexicancounterpart,itisastoryhappeningintheirland,butthemovieneverforonesecond,delvesintotheirmindset,Col,Beltrán(Fábregas)isaone-notecipherandhisarmyisabunchofrabbles,nottomentionthattheclimaticgarrison-sallyingactionpiecesarestarklyrinky-dinkandfinishinabruptness,butagracenoteismaestroMorricone’sliltingandclangingaccompaniments,eversopervasiveinaboisterous,above-averageHollywoodfluff.referentialpoints:DonSiegel’sTHEBEGUILED(1971,7.3/10),THEKILLERS(1964,5.3/10);SergioLeonex27;sTHEGOOD,THEBADANDTHEUGLY(1966,8.3/10),ONCEUPONATIMEINTHEWEST(1968,8.4/10).本文版权归作者他他所有，任何形式转载请联系作者。