Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 11, 1995 TAG: 9502140035
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Casting Sharon Stone in the lead of a Spaghetti Western directed by Sam Raimi simply should not work. The role makes no use of her high-powered sexiness, and Raimi is known best for his outrageous "Evil Dead" horror comedies and the equally bizarre "Darkman." But they've pulled it off.
Despite a few slips and a tone that wavers between serious and tongue-in-cheek, the film is a delight for fans of the genre. Sharon Stone has the screen presence to fill a starring role without vamping it up. Raimi has more control over his material than he's shown before and still cuts loose with the visual flair that's been evident in his earlier work. This film has a burnished bronze tint that fits such an outlandish yarn.
Sharon Stone is The Woman With No Name. Actually, she does have a name, but it's not revealed until the conclusion. She's that archetypal Western loner who rides into a corrupt little town and sets things right. The local boss is Herod (Gene Hackman), who sponsors an annual fast-draw tournament. He always wins.
This year's contestants include the Kid (Leonard DiCaprio), Ace Hanlon (Lance Henriksen) in black leather, Sgt. Cantrell (Keith David) and Cort (Russell Crowe), a reluctant preacher with a secret. Filling out the cast are some of the best character actors in the business: Pat Hingle, Roberts Blossom and, all too briefly, the late Woody Strode.
The most obvious inspiration comes from Sergio Leone - particularly "Once Upon a Time in the West" for some key images - and the action films of John Woo for the excessive gun violence. Though Raimi lets the pace slow to a crawl about midway through, he starts strong and ends even stronger.
Throughout, the key is Sharon Stone. As the tough, laconic protagonist, she's every bit as believable as Arnold Schwarzenegger or Bruce Willis might have been in the same role. And this is the role that they've built their careers on.
As her opposite number, Hackman certainly has his moments, but he lacks the deranged intensity that Gian Maria Volante brought to the memorable villains of Leone's "Dollars" films. This one would have been better with an Ennio Morricone score, too, but we can't have everything.
Still, those who appreciate this particular brand of Western will enjoy what Sam Raimi and Sharon Stone have done with it.
The Quick and the Dead
***
A TriStar release playing at the Salem Valley 8, Valley View Mall 6. 103 min. Rated R for graphic violence, strong language, implied sexual material.
by CNB