Westerns were a massive genre of filmmaking back in the 60s and before. However, somehow they’ve become a little less popular in the cinema of today. Even with that a few tend to leak out every now and then. With the release of True Grit I felt in an interesting exercise to take a look at some of the better films in this genre from the last decade.

So without hesitation here is my TOP TEN WESTERSN OF THE LAST DECADE:

10. Sukiyaki Western: Django (2007) (dir. Takashi Miike)

The film is actually a remake of A Fistful of Dollars which is actually a remake of Yojimbo so to see the film come full cycle to return to Japan cinema is kind of cool. However, I must say that the movie didn’t strike me too well when I first saw it. I saw all the same plot points of the original and the usual overly cool style of Japanese film. So it’s my automatic #10 pick.

9. Serenity (2005) (dir. Joss Whedon)

It’s the movie that’s based on the TV show Firefly that the fans begged for and eventually they got.  I have to say that even though I’m a massive Whedon fan I’ve never been a fan of the series, but at the same time I do love this movie. It took the series a bit further in the fun level. Fillion and Tudyk are a bag of laughs and with Chewitel Ejiofor playing the villain it’s a great movie to sit back and watch.

8. The Missing (2003) (dir. Ron Howard)

I’m not sure what the consensus on this movie is – knowing that Howard has a much unloved career at times – but I remember falling in love with it at the time. Tommy Lee Jones is great and that’s all I needed to enjoy the movie.

7. 3:10 to Yuma (2007) (dir. James Mangold)

Christian Bale and Russell Crowe trek across the west to deliver Russell Crowe to the 3:10 to Yuma. With Ben Foster on their trail to save his boss from incarceration it’s one of those really kick ass action movies set in the west. I had trouble at first with understanding Crowe’s character’s motivation for why he kept up this wish to make this poor farmer be a hero for once, but it’s something I chalk up to the misunderstood eloquence of the character. Fantastic acting all around and some fun action sequences makes this one of my favourite westerns of recent days.

6. The Proposition (2005) (dir. John Hillcoat)

Guy Pearce is the middle child of a family of outlaws. The law has captured his younger brother and has proposed a contract where if he can kill his older brother, Danny Huston, in the next nine days he’ll release his younger brother to continue their lawless life until the next day they’re captured. It’s dramatic and quite visceral most of the time and that’s why I love it.

5. Brokeback Mountain (2005) (dir. Ang Lee)

Some would question the validity of this movie. When two cowboys start a secret relationship during their time on Brokeback Mountain they start something that the both of them just can’t turn away from. Ennis and Jack are in love and live in a world where that isn’t possible to be public about. They end up gaining wives and children and a real family but they always look for any and every opportunity to relive that time on Brokeback.

4. There Will Be Blood (2007) (dir. Paul Thomas Anderson)

The west doesn’t just have cowboys, there’re also tycoons and businessmen. Daniel Plainview has come to town to drill oil and he’s going to drink it all up. It’s the story of how this ambitious businessman comes to a town to take advantage of the resources they don’t know they even have. He constantly knocks heads with the religious head Pastor Sunday who has differing opinions as to how the town should grow; but when you have the cash things tend to go your way. It’s the most capitalist tale you can find and I love it.

3. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) (dir. Andrew Dominik)

It’s not an action film even though it’s about a man who’s one of the most notorious thieves of his day. Robert Ford is a big fan of the bandit, but is always left out of the gang and out of resentment ends up killing the infamous man to gain his own bit of fame.

2. No Country for Old Men (2007) (dir. Joel & Ethan Coen)

When Llewelyn Moss comes upon a satchel of money his life turns for the worse since a relentless psychopath is after it. The movie becomes a cat and mouse game between Moss and Chigurgh to see who’s the roughest and the toughest man. It’s a great noir and it’s definitely a great film.

1. True Grit (2010) (dir. Joel & Ethan Coen)

The movie that inspired this list definitely tops it. When Mattie Ross’ father is killed she enlists Cogburn (a tough as nails Marshall) to help her track her father’s murderer and bring him to justice. The easiest plot device for all westerns is revenge and this movie not only has the characters to make it a great movie, but the setting and the action makes it a brilliant western and no one can take that away from it no matter how many people want to use the fact that it’s a remake against it.

What’s your favourite Western of the last decade?