The Gunman—Movie Review

by Peter J. O'Connell

The Gunman.Released: March 20, 2015. Runtime: 115 mins. Rated: R for strong violence, language and some sexuality.

Among the latest recruits to the ranks of over-50 dramatic actors turned action heroes is Sean Penn in The Gunman. In the chaotic Congo of the early 21^st century, Penn is Jim Terrier. Terrier leads a double life as both a legitimate security operative for mining corporations and as an assassin for hire. Rock-hard muscular and with a laser-like focus on his grim tasks, Penn is ferociously convincing as a tough guy—more so than Matt Damon in the Bourne movies or even Daniel Craig in the Bond movies or Liam Neeson in the Taken movies.

Following a particularly consequential hit, Terrier decides to leave both the Congo and the assassin's life behind him. Unfortunately, he also has to end his relationship with his girlfriend (lovely Jasmine Trinca in a sensitive performance) in order to protect her from any actions that might be directed at him. The girlfriend works for a humanitarian organization and knows nothing of Terrier's nefarious activities. Terrier asks a Spanish friend of his (Javier Bardem) to look after her.

Years later, feeling that it is now safe, Terrier returns to the Congo to work at a normal job as a supervisor for a mining operation. But it isn't safe—not at all—and Terrier sets out to find out why. His search takes him to London, Barcelona and Gibraltar, through fights—with fists, guns, knives, explosives—and encounters with both old and new friends and enemies. Events come to a flashy climax both at and in a bullring.

Director Pierre Morel, who also helmed the first Taken movie, handles his cast (which also includes the estimable Mark Rylance, Ray Winstone and Idris Elba), exotic settings and, especially, the brutal choreography of the fight scenes quite well. The storyline—Dan Macpherson, Pete Travis and Sean Penn are credited with the screenplay, based on the novel The Prone Gunman by Jean-Patrick Manchette—is less successful than the direction, being frustratingly vague, convoluted and ambiguous at times.

“Footnote” to the film: In one scene of The Gunman, Sean Penn's character is seen surfing. Penn first attracted attention in his amusing role as the classic “surfer dude” Spicoli in 1982's Fast Times at           Ridgemont High.