You can’t accuse director Jim Mangold of resting on his laurels. On the heels of his Oscar-nominated “Walk the Line,” Mangold has tackled a remake of the classic Western “3:10 to Yuma.” The original 1957 movie is heralded by film fans for its cinematography, story structure and performances.

Those are some mighty big boots to fill.

Mangold not only pays tribute to the original, but improves on it with even more impressive sweeping cinematography, a host of standout performances and tension that has not been generated in a western since Gary Cooper walked the dusty streets alone in “High Noon.”

“3:10 to Yuma” is the story of Civil War veteran Dan Evans (Christian Bale in the role played by Van Heflin in the original). His efforts to farm a small piece of land is hampered by a war injury and the unscrupulous men who run the community. The Evans land is worth more to the railroad than it is as a farm.

Fate steps in at the exact second Evans is to lose his farm. The notorious bandit Ben Wade (Russell Crowe in the role played by Glenn Ford in the original) has been captured. The problem is that Wade commands a gang that will stop at nothing to free their boss.

Evans volunteers to help transport Wade to a nearby town where the outlaw can be put on a train that will take him to Yuma to stand trial.

On an action level, Mangold does a remarkable job of staging chase scenes, shootouts and bloody battles that are on par with any contemporary set movie. And he does this without fast cars and automatic weapons.

These scenes are made stronger by the way the film is shot. Mangold manages to convey the isolation of the western world that is as raw as the primal urges that drive most men.

The real joy is watching how Bale and Crowe play their characters. At first glance, the farmer and bandit would seem as different as night and day. Mangold slowly peels away the facades both men have erected to reveal that at their very hearts, these are two men driven by the same strong urges of honor, pride and integrity.

Supporting performances by Peter Fonda as a cantankerous bounty hunter, Ben Foster as a psychotic killer and Logan Lerman as Dan’s misguided son just add to the positive acting mix.

But – and you knew there had to be a “but” somewhere – the remake falls into the same trap as the original. The ending just seems a little too pat to go along with what has been to that point a very honest movie. It is a small problem, though, and not enough to keep “3:10 to Yuma” from being a first-rate effort.

All of those critics who say the Western is dead should take a look at this film. This movie certainly proves that there is plenty of life left in the genre.