The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

It’s a high-quality western that leaves most of its competition in the dust. The main trio of actors shines, and I enjoyed their verbal showdowns. It’s also accompanied by the absolutely excellent musical score by Ennio Morricone. However, it still remains somewhat overshadowed by its younger sibling, Once Upon a Time in the West, as I find that film to have added value in its story (don’t stone me... it’s just my opinion). But back to this film. Clint Eastwood is, as always, a guarantee of quality; his gaze was made for these types of roles. And Eli Wallach, alongside him, was equally impressive; I enjoyed watching him try to outwit everyone around him. The setting during the Civil War added an extra layer of interest to the film. So yes, it’s a technically flawless film, but for me, it’s slightly hindered by the more straightforward story of searching for buried treasure. I give it a 7.5/10. (2023-09-12)

The most ambitious in content, the most magnificent in production design and the strongest in characters of the entire Dollar Trilogy. Unfortunately, it's also excruciatingly long, and as iconic as Morricone's music is, it's mostly about its central melody. Eli Wallach is the most interesting and best-acted character. But I would venture to say that Once Upon a Time in the West is qualitatively much higher. (2024-06-04)

An interesting story, straightforward and perfectly resolved. Morricene's catchy melody got under my skin again, Clint had charisma to spare in his younger days and Eli Wallach as the bad guy you actually root for is great. But it lacked something, something very little, to be perfect and I couldn't help comparing it to the brilliant Once Upon a Time in the West. The latter is a flawless five-star affair, this one has a few lapses in logic and especially a strange plot insert with armies fighting over a bridge, where Eastwood and Wallach went about as if they could not die. Otherwise, no complaints. (2004-08-30)

Leone's typically boundless western genius is imbued with a unique composition of shots, a phenomenal soundtrack and completely filigree work with dynamics and tension, which culminates in the final triple duel. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly has all the essential features of a spaghetti western, including the occasional drag and epic breadth that borders on madness. But this gold digger road movie also enchants through its slow pace, with the gourmet care through which it clings to detail, and the delicate mosaic. In my opinion, one of the best directed and set-to-music films of all time. A magical affair. (2007-06-04)

Clint Eastwood and Eli Wallach... Add Van Cleef's villain, a first-rate bastard, and you've almost got everything. Which scene from this western of all westerns to pick as the best? For me it is definitely Tuco's running between the graves accompanied by the song “The Ecstasy of Gold".... Something like this could not be made (and composed) by man, but rather by God. The best western of all time and perhaps the second best film of all time after Lawrence of Arabia.__P.S. "Comedy" is noticeably missing from the genres here. (2007-09-18)