Hombre

1967 western

Rating: 14/20

Plot: The title hombre is thrust into a situation where he has to adjust to white man life after being raised by Apaches. While traveling via stagecoach, he feels the prejudice of his white fellow travellers. When there's an unexpected change in their travel plans, however, they must depend on him for survival. He says a bunch of really cool things.

I actually think this suffers a bit by having Paul Newman in the lead role. His nonchalant attitude only sort of makes him seem like a calm and collected hero. There's just something draining about watching the main character lackadaisically going about his business. Newman almost could have played his part from a recliner. Ultra-laid-back, he delivers his lines in a barely audible mumble, and every line (unfortunately, here) is quotable, coming from the pen of a writer (Elmore Leonard in this case) instead of the mouth of a dude who was raised by Apaches. Still, the lines are really good ones. The plot's also a little goofy, but the story is at least told well with some great moments of tension, great mountain scenery, an eerie set piece that is some sort of abandoned mine, and, all things considered, a good script. I liked the colors in this, too. I also liked the guy who played the Mexican (Frank Silvera). He had some good lines. Oh, and the ending was good.

Here I am trying to figure out what "hombre" means in American words: