Saddle Up for a Delightful Blast from the Past: 'The Unholy Trinity'

So, picture this. I'm busy diving into a sea of classic 1950s and '60s westerns starring Audie Murphy, working on an article about the late actor and war hero's centenary. Just then, I chance upon the film “The Unholy Trinity” and voila! It feels like a breath of fresh air. Kudos to filmmaker Richard Gray for reviving the robust spirit of those straightforward films in his new western adventure.

Sure, lovers of the Murphy classics, particularly those who've been around the block a few times, might have to hold their noses a tad at the occasional slightly gruesome violence and salty dialogue. But trust me, it's worth it. This journey back in time isn't just a sentimental joy ride; it's stand-alone entertainment, capable of drawing in those who've never heard of delightful vintage flicks like “Seven Ways from Sundown” or “Gunfight at Comanche Creek”.

Our protagonist, Henry Broadway, played with conviction by Brandon Lessard, is your typical young hero with a penchant for wielding guns to deliver some hard-earned justice. But here's the twist: unlike Murphy, who usually didn't rub shoulders with cinema heavyweights, Lessard shares the limelight with giants like Pierce Brosnan and Samuel L. Jackson. The fact that Lessard can stand with these titans is testimony both to his charisma and the film's ambitious spirit.

The story sees young, green Henry Broadway's life take a dramatic shift in the 1870s. After a brief, poignant reunion with his outlaw father Isaac (played by Tim Daly), Henry is tasked with avenging his father's death; a task he tackles by journeying to the Montana town of Trinity. Alas, his intended target, the local sheriff, is already pushing up the daisies. Instead, he encounters the new sheriff, the forthright Irish immigrant Gideon Dove, played by a debonair Pierce Brosnan.

However, it gets tricky when an audacious ex-slave named St. Christopher (enacted with aplomb by Samuel L. Jackson) starts stirring the pot, lusting after the hidden stash of gold supposedly located somewhere in Trinity.

While trying to fend off an array of trigger-happy locals, Dove must also protect Running Cub-a Blackfoot woman assumed guilty of the previous sheriff's murder. His efforts to convince her to make herself scarce don’t quite pan out, but, hey, a woman’s got to do what a woman’s got to do.

Richard Gray captivates with his knack for combining genre elements. Building on his previous western flick, “Murder at Yellowstone City”, which cleverly mixed western and mystery, Gray presents a straightforward yet engaging narrative, sprinkling religious references throughout, and letting the women in the story-Running Cub and Dove's supportive wife Sarah show off their own marksmanship.

Of course, the magic recipe for this film’s success wouldn’t be complete without Brosnan and Jackson. Brosnan's brooding yet assertive portrayal of Dove, and Jackson's flamboyant interpretation of St. Christopher, make for a captivating duo. It’s hard to tell if St. Christopher is as devilishly sly as he presents or a mere sinner, but as Jackson grins his way through, you can't help but enjoy the ride.