The Gunman (2015)
Certified: 15
Duration: 115 minutes
Directed by: Pierre Morel
Starring: Sean Penn, Jasmine Trinca, Javier Bardem, Ray Winstone, Mark Rylance, Idris Elba, Peter Franzén
KRS Releasing Ltd
Sean Penn does a Liam Neeson-style action thriller with The Gunman. He plays the part of Jim Terrier, who is a member of a mercenary gang.
In 2006, the gang had been commissioned to work in Congo for an international conglomerate. While there, Jim had started a relationship with Annie (Jasmine Trinca), who was working in the area to provide medical services to the casualties of war.
One day, he received instructions from Cox (Mark Tylance) and Felix (Javier Bardem) to carry out a hit on the minister of mining. And in the ensuing troubles, he escaped from Africa, leaving Annie behind without even saying goodbye.
Eight years after these events, Jim becomes the target of another hit squad. Barely escaping from an attempt on his life, he travels to Barcelona to warn Cox. When he arrives in Spain, Jim discovers that Felix has set up a company and he is now married to Annie.
Penn is well placedin his role as thetitular action herowith a conscience
While at Felix’s residence, Jim is attacked by another hit squad and he and Annie go to Stanley (Ray Winstone), an old buddy of Jim. That is when Jim starts to realise that this is Cox’s work as he is out to make sure that a business deal he has, goes down as he wants it.
Jim needs to keep Annie alive and, at the same time, cope with a medical condition which can at times lay him low.
The Gunman fits into the style of all the films directed by French director Pierre Morel such as Taken (2009) and From Paris with Love (2010). The difference is that Penn’s presence seems to give the film a more radical approach. All this is covered under the camouflage and structure of the action thriller revenge movie that has become so popular of late.
The actor gives the film a political edge, but the well-choreographed sequences are all Pierre Morel, as these come with all the usual exquisite improbabilities and meticulous staging. The effort that seems to have been placed in the action results in frenetic, precise and well-panned-out sequences.
Penn is well placed in his role as the titular action hero with a conscience. This film gives him a chance to play it loose, be relaxed and simply act mean and cool. Bardem plays his part with over-the-top relish, while Winstone provides the film with a dose of bravado and old-style camaraderie.
Trinca is good-looking and fills the screen perfectly but does not go beyond the damsel-in-distress requisite.
As co-screenwriter, Penn has delivered a movie that stays strictly within the genre’s parameters. The highlight here is the direction which gives life to the characters and the scenario.
Morel infuses the film with a tense backbone to it, which will make action fans lap it up. They will probably leave the cinema discussing whether Liam Neeson would perhaps have been more fit for the role or not.