Review of Jane Got a Gun (2015) by Derek B — 26 Aug 2016

The movie starts out beautifully. It really feels like something different, though reminiscent of the classic western, in the vein of The Outlaw Josey Wales. Portman gives a more than efficient performance as Jane, with many profound, quieter moments than you'd expect from an embittered, angry cowboy type, the latter fitting the profile with Edgerton's character.

Edgerton also transforms to fit the boozy gunslinger type. The atmosphere of the film is brutal, presenting the dusty red New Mexico territory as a verifiable wasteland than it does a beautiful wide open landscape.

Ewan McGregor's merciless outlaw, Colin McCann is one of the many highlights of the film, nearly unrecognizable among his equally murderous band of miscreants. The movie does very well in creating the dirtiest, most rotten men in the west with the antagonists.

Where the movie falters however, is becoming a typical home invasion story other films such as The Keeping Room did better at succeeding. Basically, by the end of the movie, many shots are fired and there are even explosions.

Despite the turn towards re-hashed action movie tropes, Jane Got A Gun is a solid B western movie, which understands its characters and remains thoughtful a good deal throughout.