Gene Hackman, standing amidst the ruins of his house and clocktower and saloon (the means by which he controls the town, not only in the sense that they represent his throne, the flow of money, and time, but in the sense that he can post his men there with rifles) and protesting “you’re not fast enough for me” is one of the great chickenshit heel moments of cinema, a man who knows he’s going to the grave trying desperately to negotiate his way out, to no avail.
The Quick and the Dead (1995)
Directed By: Sam Raimi
Written By: Simon Moore
Cinematography: Dante Spinotti
Starring: Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe, Roberts Blossom, Kevin Conway, Lance Henriksen, Pat Hingle, Gary Sinise, Leonardo DiCaprio
Released: February 10, 1995
Rewatched: February 15, 2026 (Digital)

