It is a surprise that we actually got to see this film at all. The production was a troubled one to say the least. On day one of the shoot the director Lynn Ramsay left the set never to return. No real explanation was offered. She was replaced quickly by Gavin O’Connor, but the drama wasn’t over just then. Several changes were made to the cast, crew and the script before principal photography began in earnest. Given its uneasy start it was therefore good to see it first completed and then actually proving to be not too bad at all.
Jane Hammond (Natalie Portman) is a woman carving out a life for herself and her family in the old west. Her past comes back to haunt her when her husband arrives back home with life threatening injuries inflicted after he is found by some erstwhile associates who are out to settle a score. As Jane learns of the danger and the fact the they are being hunted down by John Bishop (Ewan McGregor) and his gang. Jane is forced to seek help in order to protect her family. She turns to a former fiance Dan Frost (Joel Edgerton) for help. He reluctantly agrees to help and together they work on a plan to defend Jane’s home and life.
The film provides no real surprises in terms of the plot. It is a fairly standard revenge western with the recognizable story beats you would expect. The performances are fine from the main cast which is as expected. Portman is in her element as the strong and smart woman who is very much in charge of her destiny. Her part is set out in such a way as to accent her abilities without ignoring her weaknesses. She is a woman in a world where the men are the bosses. She knows what she can achieve and is not afraid to seek out help when it is necessary.
Where this film fails is in the execution of some of the scenes. In a film where the past is a major part you would expect a flashback or perhaps two. This film has at least five of them. It is definitely not required. They give the background to the current situation but there are other ways to communicate this information. A bit of dialogue perhaps. What they do is spell everything out to the audience when leaving some things to the imagination would have been a lot better.
Ewan McGregor is entertaining as the main protagonist. Parachuted into the production at the last minute, he appears to relish the role of the bad guy. He even has an impressive moustache which is ripe for twirling as he works out his evil deeds. His performance is slightly over the top but is a nice contrast to the very sombre Joel Edgerton performance. Their scenes together highlight the differences in their styles and are possibly the best part of the film.
For a film with a gun in the title, it takes over an hour for any real action to take place. The violence is raw and bloody with no glamour or stylish touches in play. It fits in well with the overall tone of the film. The only real complaint is the ending. Without spoiling anything, there is a feeling that it is all too neat. Seemingly smart people start to make some bizarre decisions leading to an odd conclusion. It spoils what was actually a reasonably intelligent film up to that point.
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