An ambitious rereading of a cult western
Published in 2016, The seven mercenaries is the remake of John Sturges’ cult western (1960), in turn adapted from Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece The Seven Samurai (1954). The film maintains the central plot: a village, subject to the tyranny of a local baron and his henchmen, calls a group of seven mercenaries to defend it.
In this version, director Antoine Fuqua (Training day, Equalizer) modernizes the story by revisiting classic western themes under a contemporary prism. The film highlights characters of different origins, who embody a more representative America. These choices update the story while paying homage to the genre’s legacy.
Visually, Fuqua relies on impressive sets and spectacular action scenes. The shootouts and clashes are filmed with care, mixing realism and aesthetics. Although the film received mixed reviews for its sometimes predictable plot, it was praised for its pacing and the quality of its performances.
A prestigious casting and a production marked by mourning
One of the film’s greatest strengths lies in its casting. Denzel Washington plays Sam Chisolm, a bounty hunter with natural leadership, while Chris Pratt plays Josh Faraday, a bold and easy-going card player. The duo is accompanied by Ethan Hawke, Vincent D’Onofrio, Lee Byung-hun, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Martin Sensmeier, who make up a group of mercenaries with different and complementary personalities. Peter Sarsgaard, meanwhile, plays Bartholomew Bogue, a ruthless antagonist whose cruelty is at the heart of the conflict.
The production of The seven mercenaries However, it was marked by tragedy. James Horner, the famous composer of Titanic AND Brave hearthad agreed to create the film’s soundtrack. However, he died tragically in a plane crash in 2015before finishing his work. Despite this tragedy, his already sketched compositions could be used thanks to the collaboration of Simon Franglen, who completed the score. The soundtrack, James Horner’s latest work, gives the film a particular emotional depth and symbolic weight. The film is also dedicated to him.
Source: Cine Serie
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