(Rewatch): Still holds up - though it could have done without the first two acts and hewed more closely to Elmore Leonard's original short story. Truth of life: always trust Elmore Leonard's writing over your own impulse when it comes to adaptation – given how they re-examined 90% of everything we saw previous in hotel dialogue. Still, though, Bale and Crowe are a perfect pairing and Ben Foster is spectacular. Thinking: was this Crowe's last great role? Unless I'm blanking on it, I have to consider it to be so. Haven't seen the original with Glen Ford.

Directed by James Mangold from a screen adaptation of Elmore Leonard's original short story by Halstead Welles, Michael Brandt, and Derek Haas. Starring Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, Ben Foster, Peter Fonda, Gretchen Mol, Alan Tudyk, and Logan Lerman. Released 07 September 2007.