When is a Western not quite your average run-of-the-mill Western? When it's Canadian and it's "Gunless".
Paul Gross (magnificently) plays the Montana Kid, -- an American gun- slinger and outlaw who crosses over the Canadian border courtesy of a botched hanging and his wayward horse. Having arrived at a small village, half-dead and stinking to high heaven, the local community of a dozen or so individuals (including the village idiot) become obsessed with the Kid as his notoriety is legendary. The Kid manages to get into a situation with the village blacksmith (fueled by the fact that the blacksmith was doing the Kid a favor but the Kid doesn't see it that way) and this results in a duel. However, the blacksmith has no six-shooter therefore the Kid must provide him with one and the only gun available is broken. What will happen when the gun is finally repaired?
I don't want to give too much away but to say that the script is cleverly and masterfully written. There are plenty of dark comedic elements. Paul Gross could almost pass for young Jack Nicholson and plays the role of the Kid oozing with charisma and an acting charm that immediately won me over. Time and care is taken to build the characters in the village without over-burdening you. The characters are likable, appealing and entertaining.
If you like your movies full of mindless violence, cursing or shots crammed with 110 MPH computer generated objects, then this movie is not for you as there is none of the above. If you are looking for extremely entertaining albeit different 'Western' that is dripping with great acting (courtesy of Paul Gross), great writing, dark (but family orientated) humor, great vistas and above all great entertainment, you can't go wrong with Gunless. It's a rare gem indeed.
Paul Gross (magnificently) plays the Montana Kid, -- an American gun- slinger and outlaw who crosses over the Canadian border courtesy of a botched hanging and his wayward horse. Having arrived at a small village, half-dead and stinking to high heaven, the local community of a dozen or so individuals (including the village idiot) become obsessed with the Kid as his notoriety is legendary. The Kid manages to get into a situation with the village blacksmith (fueled by the fact that the blacksmith was doing the Kid a favor but the Kid doesn't see it that way) and this results in a duel. However, the blacksmith has no six-shooter therefore the Kid must provide him with one and the only gun available is broken. What will happen when the gun is finally repaired?
I don't want to give too much away but to say that the script is cleverly and masterfully written. There are plenty of dark comedic elements. Paul Gross could almost pass for young Jack Nicholson and plays the role of the Kid oozing with charisma and an acting charm that immediately won me over. Time and care is taken to build the characters in the village without over-burdening you. The characters are likable, appealing and entertaining.
If you like your movies full of mindless violence, cursing or shots crammed with 110 MPH computer generated objects, then this movie is not for you as there is none of the above. If you are looking for extremely entertaining albeit different 'Western' that is dripping with great acting (courtesy of Paul Gross), great writing, dark (but family orientated) humor, great vistas and above all great entertainment, you can't go wrong with Gunless. It's a rare gem indeed.