In the annals of Spaghetti Western history, three of the most legendary figures are the 3 Sergio's. They are, respectively, Sergio Leone, Sergio Corbucci, and Sergio Sollima. The three of them directed many of the most famous and influential films of the genre. While I have seen more than my fair share of films by Leone and Corbucci, until recently I had yet to see one directed by Sollima. Now, after watching The Big Gundown, I can claim otherwise. The Big Gundown essentially tracks the cat-and-mouse game between famous lawman John Corbett (Lee Van Cleef) and Cuchillo Sanchez, a Mexican peasant accused of raping a killing a 12-year-old girl. It's clear that Sollima was trying to make some kind of statement about how mankind chooses their own destiny in the quasi-philosophical discussions between the two characters. Why must Cuchillo run from the law? Why must Corbett chase him? In a way, the revelation near the end that Cuchillo is innocent damages what could have been one of the most intellectually astute films of the Spaghetti Western genre. But while it begins and ends like a traditional Western, the fascinating middle section more than justifies Sollima's reputation as one of the 3 Sergio's.
7/10
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