Jane Got a Gun

Them Bishop boys are coming for you? You don't need a gunslinger. You need a goddamn regiment. Jane Got a Gun is directed by Gavin O'Connor and collectively written by Brian Duffield, Anthony Tambakis and Joel Edgerton. It stars Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton, Ewan McGregor, Noah Emmerich, Boyd Holbrook and Rodrigo Santoro. Music is by Marcello De Francisci and Lisa Gerrard and cinematography is by Mandy Walker. Jane Hammond (Portman) has to turn to her ex lover, Dan Frost (Edgerton), for help when it's revealed that the notorious Bishop gang are heading her way in search of her husband Bill (Emmerich). It's going to be one of those films more talked about for what it could have been than what it is. Changes in production staff were unbound, from director, writer, photographer and some big name cast changes, it was a production blighted and destined to be on a loser. It hasn't helped that with it being a slow paced character based picture, and a Western at that, the market for a fan base was already running low on potential supporters. So what we left with? It undoubtedly is one for hard core Western fans only, it's hard to envisage newcomers entering into the genre for the first time, perhaps lured by the casting of Portman, being won over to the point of seeking out other classic Westerns of past and present. Yet it's got a lot going for it, because if you have the want, then it may just take a second viewing to fully absorb and enjoy. At its core it's a straight Oater of redemption, opportunities waylaid by fate, and of course a good old good versus bad axis. Relying on a flashback structure to set up the character dynamics, it can get a bit disorientating at times, hence the shout out for a second viewing. However, it may not be the perfect way to build the principal characters, but they are worth the investment for there's a big emotional pull there. Having laid the foundation for the first two thirds of the pic, we shift to good old honest violence, for siege read backs against the wall, and not without invention, in fact there's much resourcefulness on show, with Jane at times very much leading the way. The last third pays off handsomely, even if there's the (arguably) inevitable sugar coated candy to swallow as part of the final deal. Cast are dandy and turning in perfs of note, though it needed more of McGregor's John Bishop, because with what little he gets he does make a villainous mark. It looks terrific, Walker's photography bringing to mind the genre work of Roger Deakins, with the New Mexico locations blistering in their beauty, and while the sound mix for dialogue exchanges is a little poor, the musical score is thumping in its tonal appreciations. It's tricky to recommend with confidence even to Western fans, especially in a year when "Jane" had to compete with the more rambunctious Magificent Seven reboot, but give it a chance if you liked something like Slow West, and you may just be pleasantly surprised. 7/10

**_Bleak Western with Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton and Ewan McGregor_** This was shot in the spring of 2013, but not released until January, 2016, which shows that it sat on the shelf for a while. There were other production issues during the first year of conception in 2012, such as cast & crew changes. The original director walked off a day before shooting was scheduled after a three-day standoff with the key producer. I suppose we should be happy that someone cared enough to even give it a final edit and release. Forgetting all that, it’s comparable to Westerns like “Sweetwater” and “The Proposition,” but isn’t as effective, although it’s superior to “South of Heaven, West of Hell.” Some viewers complain about the constant flashbacks, which they found confusing, but I didn’t have a problem with this element (after 30-40 minutes, anyway). I just felt that a few scenes came across tedious and could’ve been tightened up or better executed. On the positive side, the ending is unexpected and great IMHO. It runs 1h 38m and was shot in Santa Fe in north-central New Mexico. GRADE: B-