Man with a Gun (1995)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

David Wyles

Writers:

Hugh C. Rae (novel)
Laurie Finstad-Knizhnik (writer)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Between Blackmail and Betrayal is a Chance for Murder.

Plot:

Madsen plays an assassin who's hired to kill the woman he loves.

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel | Independent Film

Cast

Michael Madsen	...	John Wilbur Hardin
Jennifer Tilly	...	Rena Rushton / Kathy Payne
Gary Busey	...	Jack Rushton
Robert Loggia	...	Philip Marquand
Ian Tracey	...	Roy Burchill
Bill Cobbs	...	Henry Griggs
Bill Dow	...	Ed Quigley
Jason Schombing	...	Eli Spindel
Andrew Guy	...	Italian Stud
Aleksandra Kosanovic	...	Ticket Agent
Mina E. Mina	...	Max Appleman
Bill Finck	...	Conductor
Aieisha Li	...	Young Girl
Garvin Cross	...	Wise Guy
Sonny Surowiec	...	Lithe Thug

Also Known As:

Gun for Hire (Australia)
Hired for Killing

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

USA:91 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | Germany:18 (video premiere) | USA:R | Canada:R | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Northwood Productions

Quotes:

[During sex]
John Wilbur Hardin: Your husband hired me to kill you.
Rena Rushton, Kathy Payne: And this is how you're going to do it?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Dog Watch (1996) (V)

Glum, Man, Glum.

This is modern, skeleton Noir. Within that framework, it is certainly viewable, with Tilly a standout as the femme fatal. In monochrome color, first-person narrative flashback, a jazzy soundtrack, interesting camerawork, and betrayal themes, it appears as a true genre piece. Unfortunately, the script plus the filmmakers' glint toward Schwarzenegger-like action, ruin any dark ambiance they establish. It's all here: the tough but soft-hearted hero, viperous femme, over-the-top bad guy, the black sidekick slated for torture/death. And it all rapidly blows away like gunsmoke during the cartoonish shootouts.

Madsen is in typical Rourke-mode, but with a little more compassion squinting his eyes. Tilly is all whiskey-throated slur as Rina and little-girl whine as Cathy. The movie definitely needs more of Rina, because, with the exception of Busey's Wild Man, she's the cast's only interest. The giveaway is in the prologue, where, in sepia-tone, slow-mo, and voice-over narrative, Madsen labors his death scene, blazing away with dual, silver-toned guns and a monotone from a mortally-wounded script. Ultimately, it boils down to the bullets and body count, without enough desperation or resignation to warrant the blood.