Set in Arizona in the late 1800's, a crackshot Union Army war veteran with a limp, Dan Evans (Christian Bale), has become a humble rancher with a family. As the film begins, he's just been forced to witness the burning down of his barn in front of his wife (Gretchen Moll) and two boys, by men working for a hardened and powerful local landowner who sees a greater return from the land given over to Dan, from the growth of the railroad.

The decent-minded Evans just wants a chance to rear cattle but is struggling to make ends meet. What with the drought, a son with a dreadful cough that could easily be TB, and now the loss of the barn, Dan's hopes for the American dream are fading before his very eyes. Driving his cattle out the next day, he runs into a heist of a railroad money carriage by a vicious gang of thieves led by infamous outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe). Wade and his gang take their ill-gotten gains to the next town but outstay their welcome. Before long, the cocky Wade who has been enjoying the company of a woman in the local saloon, gets caught by railroader Grayson Butterfield and his men.

Butterfield decides dangerous man Wade must be taken across country to the town of Contention, and put aboard the prison train, the 3.10 train heading to the federal courts in Yuma. To do that they must offer a posse of men up to $200 to ride across country and ensure Wade gets there. The journey will be treacherous, crossing Apache country. Who will take it on? Who is mad enough?

Down-on-luck Evans badly needs the money and being a morally law-abiding man, sees it as his duty. Also along for the ride is a wounded bounty hunter hurt in the earlier heist (played thrillingly by Peter Fonda). Dan's son Will (Logan Lerman) is forbidden by his Dad from coming along, but he's at that age (15/16) when he thinks he's a man and a far better pistol-shooter than others give him credit for. He's not going to take the orders of his father lightly.

Will Evans and the posse succeed? Or will Wade's gang led by the cold and callous Charlie Prince (Ben Foster) attempt to free their leader?

The 3.10 to Yuma is an enjoyable and entertaining remake, that combines suspense and humour. Its primarily about the relationship that grows between two men from different sides of the tracks, a man who doesn't respect the law (Wade) and one who upholds it (Evans) and the battle of wills between them which is fascinating to watch. You begin to realize long before a tense stand-off between them, that Wade is softening and is envious of what Evans has, whilst Evans is sorely tempted by what Wade can give him. It has become a struggle for him to stick to his well-honed principles.

The climax to the film contains a few surprises. Westerns tend to come and go but this is a remake that's well worth it and has done well, across the water, becoming a box office hit. It will keep you guessing providing you don't know the Elmore Leonard short story, or the Glenn Ford original. Of course, at times you have to suspend belief - as with most westerns, sometimes bullets will hit their target and other times, conveniently miss, but on the whole, the film is beautifully authentic, packs a punch and admirably stokes appreciable tension right up to the final reel.