Maverick

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Anton H Richard Donner certainly knew how to deliver a fun ride. Westerns and poker movies have a natural coolness, and these themes shine beautifully with energy and humor, most especially thanks to Mel Gibson’s undeniable star power. Then there’s the incomparable Jodie Foster… Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/19/24 Full Review Robbie R One of my favorite movies growing up. It’s a fun, witty, simple adventure that never gets old Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/07/24 Full Review Juan Esteban R Una buena comedia divertida y picara Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/03/24 Full Review Alec B Gibson has never looked crazier in a movie (Lethal Weapon included). His constant mugging for the camera here isn't funny, it's painful. Donner does his best with the material, but it never feels as fun as it wants to be. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 12/13/23 Full Review Richard P This is another highly underrated movies. Such a great movie chock full of stars and country music legends! It has a decent storyline, lots of comedy, romance, and plenty of action. This one has it all!! Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/04/23 Full Review Matthew D I found Maverick charming and funny with a real love of Western tropes. Iconic American director Richard Donner's revisionist Western comedy Maverick (1994) is quite entertaining and surprisingly funny. Donner's direction is playful, steadily paced, and generally good natured with his near spoof of Westerns. It's certainly a revisionist Western like Silverado or Dead Man, but extremely silly like Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles at times. I don't know why this had to go on for so long either, like why are there five different endings? It's a long feeling 127 minutes. I enjoyed Maverick immensely, however, it does not compare to Richard Donner's best pictures like The Omen, Superman, Ladyhawke, or The Goonies. Donner lambasts all sorts of Westerns with a gleeful smirk and nod to the classics. Maverick definitely makes fun of Hang ‘Em High, How the West Was Won, Showboat, and Dances with Wolves. Donner directly pays tribute to Once Upon a Time in the West, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Stagecoach, Duck You Sucker, Winchester ‘73, Unforgiven, and Tombstone among other classic Westerns. The writing is very clever with twists and turns alongside pleasant comedy for an upbeat atmosphere. Casting director Marion Dougherty found tons of stars for Richard Donner's ensemble cast full of Donner's old favorites. Mel Gibson is charming and quirky as the bumbling card shark Bret Maverick. He's quite funny and likable and never feels malicious. Jodie Foster is gorgeous and engaging as the lovable gambling lady Annabelle Bransford. She's just the kind of femme fatale from old Westerns with a bit of a twist on her snarky personality. Foster eagerly portrays both a dumb blonde and brilliant con artist with her manipulator Annabelle. James Garner is excellent as the amiable Sheriff Zane Cooper with a cool quickdraw like Gibson's. Graham Greene's fun loving Native American Joseph is hilarious. Alfred Molina's sinister crook Angel is actually gripping and intimidating. Maverick has some of Molina's best acting. James Coburn is as kooky as ever as the rich gentleman Commodore Duvall, who is hosting a high stakes poker tournament. Dan Hedaya cameos as the poker player Twitchy. Paul L. Smith is a riot as the bloodthirsty and foolish Archduke. Max Perlich is creepy as the gunfighter Johnny Hardin. Danny Glover's robber cameo is super funny opposite Mel. Margot Kidder's cameo is hysterical as the missionary Margaret Mary. There's so many inside jokes for lovers of Richard Donner's movies. Richard Donner himself is one of the dealers and his wife is the lady at the bathhouse in the last scene. Editors Stuart Baird and Michael Kelly bring suspense with their careful cuts during tense conversations. They make threats hang in the air. I liked their fast cuts to cut down on the distance traveled by characters. Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond has stunning wide shots of the desert in all its vastness. But, my favorite shots were his striking close-up shots that focus in on the eyes. Composer Randy Newman creates a plucky film score with warm, heartfelt romance and playful tenderness to his orchestral music. Newman works best as a film composer for movies like Awakenings and The Natural. His score for Maverick feels very of the era and pleasant. Costume designers April Ferry, Linda Henrikson, Paul H. Lopez, and Lyle Glazer create dazzling gowns for Jodie Foster that are jaw-dropping and eye-catching. Michael Hancock's makeup is really neat and transforms each person. Hairstyling from Christine Lee, Charlene Johnson, and Elaine Short give Foster a neat wavy style that's elegant and messy all at once. In all, Maverick is a very fun Western comedy that will surely delight lovers of the genre. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/05/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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