The Gunfighter (2013) Reviews

• Very funny and keeps the joke moving well

  bob the moo2014-06-23

  I'm not a big fan of narration in films since too often it seems to be a tool to tell the audience what the film isn't able to deliver without help. In this case we have a gunslinger enter a saloon in the ol' West – he does so and is surprised to find that his every thought is being spoken out loud by an unseen voice. The narrator continues this with the others in the saloon, which seems only to increase the tensions and the chance of a balletic shootout of death occurring. There is really one joke to this short film and it becomes very clear early on what that joke is. Basically we have the narrator talking through everyone's intentions as if he were writing them and providing the context and detail only an author would know. This means the intentions of those in the saloon start to come out – so for example when a character denies planning to kill someone, the narrator adds "he lied" at the end. So this is the joke and looking at the 10 minute running time, I did wonder if it could make it, since I saw that I had 'got it' only 3 minutes in. Fortunately the film is funny enough and creative enough with the idea that it makes it work for the whole time. The breaking of the genre and fourth wall plays very well as it manages to have its cake and eat it, with a genre heart while the rest break convention in various ways. It helps that it plays it well as a western, with a good feel for the genre and a professional production all round. The performances make the most of the well-written material but it is the unseen Offerman (Parks & Rec) that gets the best of it, and his delivery and timing is really well done (although of course the timing is helped by the edit). Those in the scene play it out well, with comedic performances and generally good delivery of their lines. It may be one joke but it is a joke that is played with and delivered in a creative and engaging way, making it a funny and entertaining short film with good solid laughs throughout.

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• Funny and sleazy western parody

  Horst_In_Translation2015-10-23

  "The Gunfighter" is a 9-minute award-winning western comedy short film from last year. The title character steps into a bar and we hear the narrator telling us what is happening. However, he is not only telling us as the people inside the western bar can also hear what he says. So we find out pretty much for the rest of the movie who did it with whom and in the end, it seems everybody is angry at everybody because they have been sleeping with each other's sisters, wives and sheep. The narrator is Nick Offerman, so this may be a particularly interesting watch for fans of "Parks & Recreation". I do not know any of the actors in here, which may have hurt my viewing experience a bit as it was simply too fast to know who is who. However, it was a decent watch nonetheless and even if it was the same joke for the entire film, it was not yet at a point where it had dragged. Maybe this could have been the case at the 15-minute mark. Anyway, the director here is Eric Kissack, a prolific editor, for example on Sacha Baron Cohen's works. Good little movie and I recommend it.

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• Worth your time.

  arie-vanloon2016-01-31

  Normally I don't watch short films, but this one was definitely worth the exception. The concept with the narrator may not be entirely new, but it is played out very well. The running gag (the all knowing narration) is accompanied by a few nice jokes will make you grin. The film doesn't take itself too serious, which helps. Acting is good, camera work is good. A must see when you want to kill some time in a way you won't regret (which is rare these days with all the big productions that put massive special effects in front of decent acting and good plots).

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• It told a lone joke...

  MrGKB2016-01-06

  ...almost as dusty as the streets it walked in from, but it told it with style and impeccable craftsmanship. "Did not!" Oh, yes, it did. And it made its viewers smile, and occasionally laugh. "It didn't!" Did, too. Plus an occasional guffaw. "Nobody guffaws any more. You don't know what you're talking about!" Perhaps not. Nonetheless, you'll be doing yourself a favor by seeking it out on YouTube--- "That's a purloined copy!" Fine. Go look for it on Vimeo, then. You won't be sorry. It truly is worth the effort. Don't take my voice-over for it; see for yourself.

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• So good, please watch this!

  logicproreviews2018-09-06

  So funny! Saw this hidden gem on YouTube, I don't want to give any spoilers so here goes. This clever short takes the Western formula and tips it on it's head. We have a narrator to help us along. It makes for a hilarious narrative. Please make this into a feature, the world needs it!