A lot of this film plays out as a paint-by-numbers Western, aside from the diverse cast made up of so many iconic talents from all across entertainment: rappers, game show hosts, wrestlers, and more on top of great actors. The films feels like a group of people who really like Western movies and wanted to make one so they ticked off all the boxes of what you tend to see in those films from the shot compositions to story points to tropes. I did not care for the way the Flashbacks were presented either. The pacing of the first film is a little off, with the plot not necessarily clear, but once they leave New Orleans and form the Posse the film starts to really take shape for the second half acting as a much more cohesive story while also playing out very episodically. Another thing the film really suffers from is just too much going on. It’s a revenge story and a treasure adventure similar to something like THREE KINGS. As such the plot is bogged down with too many villains. Still, Mario really knows how to shoot himself so he is the coolest motherfucker in the land. I’d love to see some sort of crossover with his character aged and Jamie Foxx as Django from DJANGO UNCHAINED. There are also some great moments, like when the Posse leaves the teacup and gold piece for the Colonel. The socio-racial politics and commentary of the film is also handled really well and so far ahead of its time. I also loved what Stephen Baldwin is doing. This is that era he was really getting good work between this BORN ON THE FORTH OF JULY and THE USUAL SUSPECTS. I don’t know what Billy Zane is doing here. He is making a HUGE choice with his acting and speech patterns.
