A Man Called Sledge is a lackluster western, with great ideas.
Thinking about this film as if I was to describe it to someone, I can't see how I wouldn't put it in a good light. Imprisoning yourself to steal the gold and then playing a winner take all poker game to leave one man standing with everything, then the losers hunting him down. Sounds bloody great, but it isn't at all. I quite disliked James Garner as the lead, thought he was quite bland. Dennis Weaver should have been cast as Sledge, he would have brought intensity to the role. Imprisoning themselves at a high security prison, relying on the fact that Sledge won't be searched and be stuck locked up for ever, seems too heavy a risk. They kept showing who was winning and losing in the poker and their expressions and outbursts, but never actually showing the poker or discussing it. It's like the script says "poker scene" and it's basically a blank page, such a shame. Then you have the old man who seems to all of a sudden be in charge of this group once Sledge is gone, why are they trying to go up against their gun slinging leader with this stranger, he didn't do them wrong at all and they know they can't beat him.
Thinking about this film as if I was to describe it to someone, I can't see how I wouldn't put it in a good light. Imprisoning yourself to steal the gold and then playing a winner take all poker game to leave one man standing with everything, then the losers hunting him down. Sounds bloody great, but it isn't at all. I quite disliked James Garner as the lead, thought he was quite bland. Dennis Weaver should have been cast as Sledge, he would have brought intensity to the role. Imprisoning themselves at a high security prison, relying on the fact that Sledge won't be searched and be stuck locked up for ever, seems too heavy a risk. They kept showing who was winning and losing in the poker and their expressions and outbursts, but never actually showing the poker or discussing it. It's like the script says "poker scene" and it's basically a blank page, such a shame. Then you have the old man who seems to all of a sudden be in charge of this group once Sledge is gone, why are they trying to go up against their gun slinging leader with this stranger, he didn't do them wrong at all and they know they can't beat him.