Review of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966) by Leonardo S — 03 Aug 2018

There isn't anything that one can say about "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" that hasn't been said before. Sergio Leone's masterpiece is an unquestionable landmark in the history of Cinema, and one of the most influencial movies of all time.

The acting is nearly flawless, thanks not only to good dialogue, but also to the fantastic trio of Eastwood, Van Cleef and Wallach (who absolutely steals the show for the majority of the movie), who share a wicked chemistry with each other, and fit their respective roles like a tailored suit - Van Cleef as Angel Eyes, a delightfuly evil bounty hunter, Wallach as Tuco, a vicious, sleazy and despicable criminal who is the perfect match to Eastwood's "Man with no Name", one of (if not THE) most recognizable and loved characters of all time - a silent but charismatic, violent but fair, cruel... but somehow, good.

The plot is simple but extremely efficient. Never does anything feel out of place, and all the events seem credible. The 3 characters have clear motives and personalities, while the dialogues, as mentioned before, are a highlight. The cinematography is breath-taking, and the score (as well as its use in the movie) is nothing short of legendary, at this point.

The only detail that doesn't quite match the story arch is the bridge battle, but even that serves as a way to develop even more Eastwood's and Wallach's characters, so that can be considered an insignificant flaw (but a very entertaining one, nonetheless).

Overall, the best movie out of the "Dollars Trilogy" is still a thrilling, ambitious and memorable as it has ever been, and it stands as one of Cinema's great masterpieces.