Reviews

tmdb28039023

August 26, 2022
5.0
If I had to guess I would say that director Justin Lee is aiming for a meta-western, and A Tale of Two Guns (a title that must have sounded great on paper but which makes little contextual sense) certainly is very self-aware – even a little too much for its own good; here is a movie where the score in a scene set in a saloon (though according to the sign outside it is a “club” rather than a saloon) is Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer.” There is also a lot of talk about “the end of an era” and “a dying breed” and “figur[ing] out what men like us are gonna do in this life” now that “The organization known as the Cowboys has come to an end.” As a matter of fact, there is a lot of talking in this movie, period, and quite a bit of it is rather incomprehensible. For instance, we have such non sequiturs as “I do not like your face, sir. Therefore, I will feel no such way about killing you on the merit that you are an annoyance in my presence.” Now, don’t get me wrong; I love westerns almost as much as I love films about people talking, and there is no law that says a western can’t or shouldn’t be wordy (I’m reminded of Ed Harris’s Appaloosa, which had a lot of fun with the English language), but perhaps there is a reason that some of the greatest westerns seem to be as laconic as their heroes. Two Guns is at its best when it’s about, in its own words, “the thrill of the hunt”; a cat and mouse game in which the pursuer (Ed Morrone) says of his prey (Casper Van Dien) that “I've just been hunting this man for a few weeks now, and every time I think I might understand him, he does something to surprise me.” Both Morrone and Van Dien turn in solid performances, and there’s also strong supporting work from the likes of Tom Berenger, Jeff Fahey, Judd Nelson, and Danny Trejo. Morrone is new to me, and the others are far from what you’d call an A-list cast; on the other hand, this isn’t the first rodeo for any of them, and they all bring a world-weary journeyman quality to the proceedings that is much welcome and much appreciated.

Recommendation Movies

5.9
Documentary
View
5.9
A
A1998
6.5
Animation
View
6.5
Godzilla: The Planet Eater
Godzilla: The Planet Eater2018
6.5
Horror
View
6.5
The People Under the Stairs
The People Under the Stairs1991
6
Comedy
View
6
The Archies
The Archies2023
6
Action
View
6
Mount Adams
Mount Adams2021
7.3
Fantasy
View
7.3
The Devil's Backbone
The Devil's Backbone2001
6.4
Drama
View
6.4
Zero Fucks Given
Zero Fucks Given2022
6.3
Animation
View
6.3
Wish
Wish2023
6.9
Action
View
6.9
Uncharted
Uncharted2022
7.4
Horror
View
7.4
Five Nights at Freddy's
Five Nights at Freddy's2023
8.1
Drama
View
8.1
Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer2023
7.6
Crime
View
7.6
The Batman
The Batman2022
8.1
Crime
View
8.1
Joker
Joker2019
7.6
Animation
View
7.6
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
The Super Mario Bros. Movie2023
7.5
Action
View
7.5
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One2023
7.4
Crime
View
7.4
Killers of the Flower Moon
Killers of the Flower Moon2023
6.9
Comedy
View
6.9
Barbie
Barbie2023
7.6
Science Fiction
View
7.6
Avatar: The Way of Water
Avatar: The Way of Water2022
7.7
Science Fiction
View
7.7
Poor Things
Poor Things2023
7.5
Action
View
7.5
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga2024
© 2025 MoovieTime. All rights reserved.Made with Nuxt