The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

The Good barely talks, the Bad disappears for a big chunk of the middle, and the Ugly is the only one doing any real acting. Bless him. Eli Wallach’s Tuco is loud, sneaky, desperate and very funny, and he basically carries the movie while Clint Eastwood squints like the sun owes him money. Lee Van Cleef is pure menace in a hat. The weak spot is a long Civil War detour around a bridge that slows the treasure hunt to a crawl, even if it’s the most serious stretch in the film. Everything else is Sergio Leone stretching moments until they snap: giant faces, tiny eyes, a stare that lasts longer than whole scenes in other movies. Ennio Morricone’s score does half the talking. Made on a reported $1.2 million, it pulls a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. A 9.5 because no western has ever made waiting this exciting. $788 says the next time three people reach for the last slice of pizza, everybody stares for a full minute first.

What works: Eli Wallach’s hilarious, desperate Tuco, Leone’s giant close-ups and Ennio Morricone’s score turn every standoff into an event.

What doesn’t: The Civil War bridge detour stalls the treasure hunt for a long stretch, and Blondie is more of a squint than a character.

Who it’s for: Anyone who thinks they don’t like westerns, and anyone who already knows they do.