Jane Got a Gun (2015)

A woman asks her ex-lover for help in order to save her outlaw husband from a gang out to kill him.

Director:

Gavin O'Connor

Writers:

Brian Duffield (screenplay), Anthony Tambakis (screenplay)

Stars:

Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton, Ewan McGregor

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Natalie Portman	...	Jane Hammond
Joel Edgerton	...	Dan Frost
Ewan McGregor	...	John Bishop
Noah Emmerich	...	Bill Hammond
Boyd Holbrook	...	Vic Owen
Rodrigo Santoro	...	Fitchum
James Burnett	...	Cunny Charlie
Sam Quinn	...	Slow Jeremiah
Maisie McMaster	...	Kate
Jenny Gabrielle	...	Whore
Alex Manette	...	Buck
Piper Sheets	...	Mary
Celia Kessler	...	Jig Girl
Linda Martin	...	Madame
Kristin Hansen	...	Woman #1 (as Kristen Hansen)

Storyline

Jane Got a Gun centers on Jane Hammond, who has built a new life with her husband Bill "Ham" Hammond after being tormented by the ultra-violent Bishop Boys outlaw gang. She finds herself in the gang's cross-hairs once again when Ham stumbles home riddled with bullets after dueling with the Boys and their relentless mastermind Colin. With the vengeful crew hot on Ham's trail, Jane has nowhere to turn but to her former fiancé Dan Frost for help in defending her family against certain destruction. Haunted by old memories, Jane's past meets the present in a heart-stopping battle for survival.

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Plot Keywords:

ex lover | haunted by the past | on the run | death of husband | redemption | 

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Taglines:

She turned to her past to protect her family.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and some language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 January 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Armée et dangereuse

Filming Locations:

New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$803,000, 31 January 2016, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$1,512,815, 21 February 2016

Company Credits

Production Co:

1821 Pictures, Boies / Schiller Film Group, Eaves Movie Ranch

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ramsay quit production on the indie drama Jane Got a Gun (2015) prior to the first day of shooting following a three-day standoff with producer-financier Scott Steindorff in March 2013. Ramsey complained about alleged fraudulent behavior of the producer during pre-production, mainly trying to force upon her an impossible schedule at the last minute while denying her final cut. She felt tricked with false promises and left the production therefore. Ramsay was supposed to receive $750,000 for directing the film plus bonuses, her best salary ever, but she preferred to leave the production because the producers made it impossible to direct the movie the way she had planned. Ramsey was sued for breach of contract in November 2013, but the resulting lawsuit was settled privately in March 2014: The producers said they would no longer be pursuing the acclaimed director for more than $850,000 (£512,000) in reported fees and damages.

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Goofs

After missing her target horribly while learning to shoot a pistol, Jane picks up a rifle to demonstrate that she can shoot that type of firearm well. Jane then proceeds to shoot the handle off of an ax. No settler out in the middle of nowhere would shoot the handle off of a much needed and precious implement such as an ax just to prove a point.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jane Hammond: [whispering a bedtime story] Callie and Decca were two sisters. They were on a boat. They're in the water, and Callie said to Decca, "Decca, will you tell me the story about the upside-down tree again please?" And Decca said, "Once upon a time, there was an upside-down tree. And anyone who walked in through the door of its trunk would be immediately turned to good if they were bad." Callie said, "I would really like to see that tree sometime." They went on and on in the water. Can ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Natalie Portman/John Oliver/Sia (2016)

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Soundtracks

Streets of Laredo
Traditional
Arranged and Performed by Squeek Steele
By arrangement with Saddle Butte Music

User Reviews

Serviceable Western Film

After years of a troubled production, Jane Got a Gun finally got to the big screen, albeit in the month for cinema to dump their weak films, January. Although for me, that may have improved my enjoyment of the picture. I went in barely seeing any of the trailers or TV spots (were there any?) and with barely any expectations, so perhaps that improved my likeness of Jane Got a Gun.

The film stars Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton, and Ewan McGregor in a production that once had names like Bradley Cooper, Michael Fassbender, and Jude Law attached among others. I actually think the ending cast turned out pretty good as Portman and Edgerton shared unexpectedly great chemistry. I think the problem with the film is that I'm not sure the film had anything new to add to the world of cinema. There isn't anything special about Jane Got a Gun, but it is a well made film by Gavin O'Connor. His last film Warrior, is one of my favorite films of all time, and while it's nowhere near as good as that film, I think I can consider it one of the first surprises of 2016.

O'Connor's choice of using flashbacks to fill in the gaps between the years in which Edgerton and Portman are apart, was a mistake. We get all of the character development we need in a few sit down scenes between the two later on in the film. The ending is also an extremely well handled shootout climax even if McGregor's character is very under developed. Overall, I think this a solid entry in for the western genre and O'Connor's filmography. But I also think that it doesn't feel like a polished project even though it has taken years to get to the big screen. There's plenty to like, including the incredible lead performances, but there's also plenty to shrug your shoulders about. No matter, I definitely enjoyed my experience watching Jane Got a Gun.

+Portman and Edgerton

+Tense finale

+Much better than expectations after a troubled production

-Still doesn't feel finished

-No need for flashbacks

7.2/10