Cowboys & Aliens

Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford join forces in this almost preposterously serious genre mash-up of sci-fi, western, and action-adventure set in 1875 in the territory of New Mexico. Based on Scott Mitchell Rosenberg's 2006 graphic novel in which the Old West is besieged by a menacing terror from outer space, the story finds mysterious desperado Jake Lonergan (Craig) riding into the desolate mining town of Absolution with no memory of his past; the only hint to his history a metallic band around his forearm. Naturally, the citizenry is wary of strangers, and nobody does anything unless it's approved by tyrannical rancher and former Civil War colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde (Ford). But after an attack by spaceships full of bug-eyed monsters who indiscriminately begin snatching up folks, the just-arrived gunslinger—who has an epiphany about that bracelet—turns into the town savior. Looking to Lonergan's knowledge of extraterrestrial technology for their salvation are intrepid yet enigmatic Ella Swenson (Olivia Wilde), saloonkeeper Doc (Sam Rockwell), and his wife, Maria (Ana de la Reguera), among other archetypal residents, along with a gang of stagecoach robbers and Chiricahua Apache warriors. United against a unique threat, the disparate groups are enmeshed here in a solemn struggle for survival—without a hint of satire. Director Jon Favreau and a team of screenwriters push the envelope of frontier folklore into sometimes ludicrous territory here, but the high production values, well-developed characters, and strong performances make this a worthwhile watch. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Jon Favreau, the “making-of” featurettes “Outer-Space Icon” (10 min.), “The Scope of the Spectacle” (7 min.), and “Finding the Story” (6 min.), and trailers. Excusive to the Blu-ray release are a series of “Conversations with Jon Favreau” with costars Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde, executive producer Steven Spielberg, producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, writer-producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, and writer Damon Lindelof (81 min.), the behind-the-scenes featurettes “A Call to Action” (9 min.) and “Absolution” (9 min.), bonus DVD and digital copies of the film, and the BD-Live function. Bottom line: a solid extras package—especially on Blu-ray—for a well-acted hybrid popcorn flick.] (S. Granger)