Jane Got a Gun (4/26/2016)

Rated R for violence and some language.

Starring Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton, Noah Emmerich and Ewan McGregor

Directed by Gavin O’Connor (Miracle and Warrior)

Unfortunately, this film is a misfire.

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.

Gavin O’Connor, directed Miracle and Warrior. The writers wrote the scripts for films like Insurgent, Warrior and The Gift. Not bad right? Well somehow they managed to pull together a talented cast and then gave them nothing to do.

Most people love western for the deep characters and the old west action sequences. While there may be a few bullets flying through the air, the action fails to live up to expectations. Instead the film chooses to focus on a love triangle between Jane (Natalie Portman), Ham (Noah Emmerich), and Dan (Joel Edgerton). If you’re thinking Twilight in the west, you’re not far off.

The rest of the supporting characters really aren’t given enough screen time. The biggest crime of all is the waste of Ewan McGregor as a villain. McGregor is absolutely forgettable as John Bishop, which is a downright shame.

Jane Got a Gun is no 3:10 to Yuma or True Grit. The film is as dry as the desert it’s set in. Despite its superior cast and a promising vengeful concept, Jane Got a Gun should just be “Skipped.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is no sex or nudity, only some suggestive comments.

There are some scenes of violence. In one, we see a man being interrogated as a steel cable is wound around his neck tightly.

Other scenes of violence in the film involve mainly gun-slinging and pointblank shootings that are typical in westerns. While the impact of the violence is visible, the scenes are mostly brief.

There are a few F-words and other profanities.

CONVERSATION STARTER:

1. How would you describe life in the “wild west” as portrayed in this film and others you may have seen?


2. What are some of the things that would have been most difficult for you to do during the wild west times?


3. What are some of the things that would have been most difficult for you to do without?


4. So whether we live in a place like the old west or with all the modern comforts, worry and anxiety still exist. When that happens, remember the words of 1 Peter 5:7 “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.”