Starring: Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, Megan Fox
Director: Jimmy Hayward (Horton Hears a Who!)
Running Time: 1 hr 23 min
Release Date: June 18, 2010
Budget: $47 million
Critics’ Thumbs Up: 21%
“…explosive summertime action…” Mike Scott, New Orleans Times-Picayune
“Bracingly inept.” Nick Pinkerton, LA Weekly
It’s a supernatural Western based on a comic book that takes place on the eve of America’s centennial, but Jonah Hex still manages to be boring and devoid of a sensible plot. Brolin stars as the titular anti-hero, a man physically and emotionally scarred who’s intent on revenge against the evil Confederate general Quentin Turnbull (Malkovich). Hex’s intro is engaging as our protagonist’s deep-seated backstory is recounted and the action-packed climatic ending is attention-grabbing, but Hex’s whole middle flounders. Brolin offers a disappointingly mediocre performance for this otherwise complex character, Fox’s prostitute/love interest is so underdeveloped she’s pointless, and even the superb Malkovich can’t make Hex interesting.
