Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Decent but bloody Western has swearing, drinking, nudity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
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Dead for a Dollar
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In DEAD FOR A DOLLAR, it's 1897, and bounty hunter Max Borlund (Christoph Waltz) is hired by prominent businessman Mr. Kidd (Hamish Linklater) to track down his wife, Rachel (Rachel Brosnahan), who has apparently been abducted by a Black soldier, Elijah (Brandon Scott). Teamed up with another soldier, Sgt. Poe (Warren Burke), they track down their quarry in Mexico and discover that the couple actually ran away together. And they've demanded a ransom, with which they hope to escape. Having been misled by Kidd, Borlund decides to help them, but there are three problems. One is Mexican landowner Tiberio Vargas (Benjamin Bratt), who protects his territory with an iron fist and has demanded half of the ransom money for himself. Another is gambler/gunfighter Joe Cribbens (Willem Dafoe), whom Borlund put behind bars for five years and who just may be interested in revenge. Third is Mr. Kidd himself, who's getting closer and is most certainly seeking vengeance.
Is It Any Good?
Fans of veteran director Walter Hill will appreciate this sturdy Western, although the vivid characters and Hill's personal touch emerge more clearly and memorably than the convoluted plot. Hill has made more than 20 movies since 1975, mainly masculine genre movies (war movies, action movies, Westerns) and studies in territory, exploring as characters find themselves out of place and needing to reassess in order to survive. Dead for a Dollar is a typical brisk, tough Hill film, fitting right in with these themes. Its main drawback is the strange hurry-up-and-wait quality of the story as all the characters make their way to Mexico for the ultimate showdown. It never quite achieves the necessary snap of tension that it promises.
But there's plenty to look at while we wait. Waltz gives a fine performance as the bounty hunter, suggesting plenty of history and wisdom behind each careful move he makes. Dead for a Dollar opens with a terrific scene, as Borlund visits Cribbens on his last day of prison, attempting to determine whether Cribbens has revenge on his mind. In this scene and in many others, the actors seem to feed off of each other's energy like in a tense poker game, reading each other's tells and adjusting appropriately. The finale showcases a master's use of space and rhythm, as well as notable representation for a Western. All in all, this isn't a great movie, but it's one for those who appreciate what a seasoned pro can bring to the card table.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Dead for a Dollar's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
Much of the movie takes place in bars, with characters casually drinking. Does alcohol seem glamorized? Are any consequences shown? Why does that matter?
What makes the Western genre so enduring? What can stories of the Old West tell us about who we are now?
What does the movie have to say about racial equality and discrimination?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 30, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : October 4, 2022
- Cast : Christoph Waltz , Willem Dafoe , Rachel Brosnahan
- Director : Walter Hill
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Quiver Distribution
- Genre : Western
- Run time : 106 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, some sexual content/graphic nudity and language
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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