The Gunman (MA)
Starring: Sean Penn, Javier Bardem, Idris Elba
COULD it be the worst miscasting of the year?
Tortured, leftist artiste Sean Penn as a buffed-up action hero mercenary?
Yes, Hollywood’s finally lost the plot.
And with a truly painful 16 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s clear a lot of other people felt the same way as I did about this film.
Penn is badly out of role as a cool, calculating gun for hire with a bit of a conscience. Mind you, not enough of a conscience to stop him pulling the trigger on anyone the mining company tells him to.
After just such an incident in sweaty Africa, he is sent off continent, dropping his love interest like a hot cartridge casing.
But the ripples from his high-profile assassination continue to spread, and drag him back into the sewer.
It’s a completely routine, paint-by-the-numbers, hero versus anti-hero stock-standard run and gunner.
It’s interesting to note that Penn either can’t invest much in the role, or can’t be bothered – I’m not sure which.
And if you’re an Idris Elba fan, don’t get too excited – he doesn’t show up until the show’s almost over.
It’s not on many screens, and fewer by the minute – but don’t rush out.
– Jason Beck
