Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Classic '80s Western has violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Silverado
What's the Story?
SILVERADO is the town that brothers Emmett (Scott Glenn) and Jake (Kevin Costner) are riding to get to in this modern Western written and directed by Lawrence Kasdan. Emmett is fresh out of jail for a self-defense shooting. When he finds Jake, he has to break him out of jail, where he's awaiting hanging, for the same offense. They're heading for California and want to say good-bye to their sister and her family before making the move. Along the way, Emmett rescues Paden (Kevin Kline), a gambler who was mugged in the desert by some horse thieves who took his mount, gun, clothes, and favorite hat. In Silverado they run into old foes. The McKendricks are the rich town bullies who run black people off their property, among other nasty practices, and Cobb (Brian Dennehy) is a former swindler Paden used to run with. Now he's the sheriff, bought and paid for by McKendrick. Mal (Danny Glover) walks into a saloon one day. He's riding from Chicago to see his family in Silverado. The bartender calls him the "N" word and banishes him. Emmett and Jake witness the mistreatment and later they, Mal, and Paden all team up for a rescue-revenge operation against the McKendricks that combats murder, shootings, stabbings, kidnappings, arson, land theft, and other transgressions of the Old West.
Is It Any Good?
This film is a mix of classic Western and modern sensibility. Silverado has the awkwardness and art of a modern Western, with lots of smart-alecky remarks straight from the 1980s, and a cinematic sweep that echoes the images of John Ford and David Lean, even though such indulgences make the film a good half-hour longer than necessary. Director Kasdan also wrote Raiders of the Lost Ark, an equally smart-alecky movie set in the early 20th century, and he mimics the rousing, obvious orchestral cues of impending adventure and danger from that epic in this movie.
The movie is shaggy around the edges, with lots of great actors in unnecessary parts (Lynn Whitfield and Jeff Goldblum), but the cast is mostly attractive and fun to watch. Glenn as Emmett is the stereotypical old-school cowboy. He says little, can shoot straight, resorts to violence when necessary, and knows right from wrong, even when it's the law that's wrong. Costner plays Jake as an idiot party dude, often laughing inappropriately in the face of danger. In such perilous times, when everyone was packing and men drew their sidearms at the slightest offense, his demeanor doesn't seem believable. Still, teens who enjoy Westerns should like this one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Westerns. What's the appeal? Why have they remained popular?
How does Silverado make it clear that life in the Old West was harsh?
How does this compare to other Westerns you've seen?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 10, 1985
- On DVD or streaming : February 3, 2009
- Cast : Kevin Kline , Scott Glenn , Kevin Costner , Danny Glover , Brian Dennehy
- Director : Lawrence Kasdan
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- Genre : Western
- Run time : 133 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : for Western Action Violence, Language, and Brief Sexual Content.
- Last updated : August 25, 2022
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