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The Gunman
A (INDIA)
2015
MOVIE IS
humanitarian
compelling
inevitable
serious
impressive
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25 %
17 %
Rotten
$ 24 Million
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The Gunman
Positive Reviews
34
Negative reviews
99
Average Rating
2.1
/5
humanitarian
compelling
inevitable
serious
impressive
All
Positive
Negative
2.0
A viewer can almost feel the movie reminding itself what its about, the same way Terrier continually scribbles plot points down in his Moleskine.
Av Club
3.0
Sadly, its best to leave them at the concession stand if youre planning on enjoying The Gunman.
EW
2.5
Unfortunately for them, his motivations will seem just as murky after the end credits have rolled because this is the kind of throughly anonymous and ..
Rogerebert
2.0
While its an admirable attempt at a more grown up type of entertainment, the movie winds up feeling rather leaden.
Common Sense Media
2.0
Sadly, Penns veiny, sweat glazed biceps are the most objectively impressive feature of this rote, humorless thriller, a distinctly unconvincing attemp ..
Variety
2.0
Though the film essentially delivers the goods in supplying loud bangs and bright flashes, its done with a palpable lack of imagination, content to do ..
We Got This Covered
2.0
But thanks to Taken director Pierre Morel, this too often feels like just another slice of brainless Eurotrash, packed with saw it coming plot twists, ..
Time Out
2.0
Fifteen minutes of quasi earnest guff (replete with respected newsreader cameos) about corporate plunder, genocide, and bloody civil war in the Democr ..
The Guardian
2.0
Penns gym bunny loveliness is the most attractively toned part of the film. Everything else is out of condition.
The Guardian
1.9
Morel offers a handful of solid action sequences, but none of them quite legitimize all the obvious bullshitting thats sandwiched between them.
1.3
The Gunman may start as a genre exercise of promising purpose, but it winds up being just a lot of bull.
2.5
Therefore, youll only want to see this is if the sound of gunfire is music to your ears.
ETimes (TOI)
2.0
Ticket sales should be solid on the back of a vigorous marketing campaign, but Penn is unlikely to have the same appeal as Neeson for the target demog ..
The Hollywood Reporter
2.0
When Bardem is onscreen, the emotional stakes are high, engaging you in a way the principal storyline fails to do.
2.5
All of which could be worthy and interesting.Sean Penn, who plays Jim Terrier, the titular shooter, afflicted by conscience and a head injury, has don ..
The New York Times
3.4
While its rooted in action, The Gunman starts out pretty slow, unfolding more like a political drama rather than a straight thriller.
IGN
2.0
The latest brawn flexing multiplex fodder from Taken director Pierre Morel, The Gunman stars Liam Neeson as a stoical mercenary hunted down by hold on ..
Telegraph
4.0
Penn can be a magnetic force field in any type of role, and he has an impressive history in action.
3.8
This time, the shoes are worn by Sean Penn, which means a different kind of action movie, something with some ideas and a conscience, but not so many ..
San Francisco Chronicle
3.0
Sub Ludlum plotting but stylishly executed, this offers a fun night out but is far from a nailed on franchise starter.
3.0
Eight years later, Terrier is back in Congo and on edge after an attempt is made on his life.
Ny Daily News
1.0
Sean Penn looks the part, and perhaps with a better script he may be able to take on the gruff, aging action hero, but this isnt the movie to do it.Th ..
JoBlo
2.0
While the filmmaking is solid, the storytelling is overly convoluted and not at all engaging.
Screen Rant
1.3
1 out of 4 stars Written by Sean Penn, Don MacPherson and Pete Travis Directed by Pierre Morel Starring Sean Penn, Javier Bardem and Mark Rylance Clas ..
The Globe And Mail
2.5
Later in this dubious action thriller Penns first stab, if you will, at the genre Terrier has a meeting in an amusement park in Barcelona.Why not
Philly
2.5
Therefore, youll only want to see this is if the sound of gunfire is music to your ears.
2.0
But in fact that plot thread is little more than a spuriously meaningful cover for whats nothing but a standard issue series of action tropes that gro ..
One Guys Opinion
1.5
Penns need to be seen as a guy of integrity is left naked in The Gunman, but at least hes having some fun with the action movie trappings, and with ta ..
Village Voice
2.5
Eight years later, hes digging wells to get fresh water for the villages there.
Rogers Movie Nation
2.5
Hows that for an uplifting action movie premise.Still, there are grim thrillers that work on their own terms.
ReelViews
3.0
Sadly, the formula doesnt produce a kissing cousin to Taken, finding The Gunman more dour, confused, and sluggish than the Liam Neeson smash.
Blu Ray
2.0
I can imagine Sean Penn agreeing to star in this Taken knockoff on the condition that it educate moviegoers about humanitarian crises in Africa; it do ..
Chicago Reader
2.5
The movie doesnt quite approach a level of irresponsibility, but its all around lack of responsibility is off putting.
Mark Reviews Movies
2.0
But, this romantic reunion is merely a distraction from the routine battles between Terrier and the aforementioned legions.
2.0
But, this romantic reunion is merely a distraction from the routine battles between Terrier and the aforementioned legions.
1.9
This aims for Bourne territory, but doesnt come close to that exciting, deftly made spy saga.
Usa Today
0.0
Freddy vs. Jasons failure is disappointing, certainly, but hardly surprising, and yet its difficult not to feel a touch of surprise at just how thorou ..
Reel Film Reviews
2.0
We are sorry, you need to be a subscriber to watch this video We are sorry, you need to be a subscriber to watch this video Sean Penn has spent a lot ..
The Times
3.0
A former professional assassin (Sean Penn), eight years retired, suddenly finds himself hunted by the kind of hit team he used to work on; he doesnt k ..
News Review
2.0
There isnt much fire between them anyway and her utter helplessness is just another indication of how dated the formula is.
Radio Times
1.5
Three of these four are quite literally wasted here, and the fourth is barely in the film.
Screen It
2.0
Too portentous to work as an action hero romp, and far too sweaty and derivative to have any kind of political or satirical kick, the movie misses alm ..
Independent
1.5
The Nature of Imitation is the sound of Dorian Concept systematically deconstructing various genres, stripping them back to the bones underneath and t ..
Pop Matters
2.5
Hard to say; its one thing to bring a gravelly gravitas to characters like this, but Penn suffers and glowers so much that it weighs down the material ..
The Wrap
1.9
So who decided to turn this potentially entertaining thriller into a dour drama about global politics
News Day
2.0
Penn works with Taken director Pierre Morel for the new movie, which has a mostly wasted cast that includes Javier Bardem and Ray Winstone.
Cs Monitor
1.9
Watching Penn pump iron and denounce capitalism for two hours would be roughly as illuminating as this monotonous Euro thriller.
New York Post
3.0
Winstone is always fun to watch, while Trinca builds a sympathetic and appealing character from what is usually a genre afterthought.
Film Journal International ..
2.0
The Gunman is a predictable slog through action movie tropes, and Penns intensity isnt a good fit.
Az Central
3.0
Part of the problem is the scripts determination to drag some of Spains most scenic spots into the action whether or not they suit the mood.
Smh
3.0
Hit out: Sean Penn is in the firing line in The Gunman.Sean Penn wants a piece of Liam Neesons action, as a lethal senior citizen.
Smh
2.0
Any hints of subversion in this genre story the political immorality, a suggestion that Jims paranoia is merely the result of severe head trauma are s ..
Npr
2.5
Penn and his fellow actors are fine at conversation, but there are more dialogue driven subplots here than a movie full of bullets and land mines requ ..
Star Tribune
0.5
Which means were gonna figure Terrier pretty much deserves everything hes got coming.
2.5
The Gunman Sean Penn is nothing if not in shape as Jim Terrier in The Gunman.Starring Sean Penn, Javier Bardem, Jasmine Trinca, Ray Winstone, Idris El ..
Toronto Star
1.5
The result is an unexpectedly dark and downbeat thriller that retreats from all its most mordant observations about the uses of power and violence int ..
Salon
2.0
The Gunman James Mottram 16 March 2015 Clumsy thriller which reinvents Sean Penn as an action star Sean Penn is not an actor known for vanity projects ..
Flim List
3.5
The violence is brutal and there is plenty of it.As the body count rises, so too does the intensity of Terriers headaches and dizziness, the resulting ..
2.5
But hes not above stripping for showering and surfing, deliberately revealing bulging biceps and an impressively buff torso.
Susang Ranger
1.3
This time, his trademark frowning, glowering intensity just seems annoying.The Gunman is a disaster.
Observer
1.0
Essentially, the movie is just two boring hours of waiting for the inevitable.
Flickering Myth
1.5
The action bits are decent.Nothing out of the ordinary that will entertain you.
Book My Show
3.0
A muscular, passable piece of slick entertainment on the action front, The Gunmans ambitions are welcome, but could have used another polish.
The Film Stage
2.5
Its a tasty cast, but the script does not do its job in crucial areas, letting the audience get way, way out ahead of the reveals.
Chicago Tribune
2.5
If the films intent is to condition the audience into a distaste for violence through boredom, it succeeds.
Boston Globe
2.0
But the fact is that this is a movie that wants us to sympathize with and root for a very bad man who could not ever pay off the wages of his sins.
Flickfilosopher
2.0
The Gunman wants to be Taken with a brain and without Liam Neeson.
The Irish Times
2.0
The result is a dumb, loud action movie that aspires to forcibly entertain and provoke thought but fails miserably.
Blogs Indie Wire
2.5
This may take a while, but it will be shorter than the movie itself, as well as less expensive and, with luck, moderately more entertaining.Onward.
The Atlantic
1.5
The great Ray Winstone plays Jims clandestine support connection Stanley, but he doesnt do much beyond providing perfunctory lectures and guidance.
Birth Movies Death
2.0
Sylvester Stallone keeps showing us what antique action men can do if they try.
Standard
1.5
What makes this film imminently worse is that it makes virtually no sense whatsoever.
Tony Medley
3.0
The Bottom Line: The Gunman isnt terriblethose who enjoy explosions, shoot outs and hand to hand combat should be fine with this perfectly fine action ..
3.0
Morel may have some of the worlds greatest actors are on hand for the proceedings, but he isnt creative enough to use their talents to effectively ele ..
Hit Fix
2.0
Thumbnail: Dont be taken by this generic and overwrought actioner.
Forbes
2.0
The Gunman is among the surliest of its kind, an elder actioner of unrelenting violence and preachy geopolitical ardor. Sean Penn looks tired, and thi ..
Consequence Of Sound
1.9
One might go as far as to say it humanizes this superhuman killing machine.What it doesnt do is advance the narrative in any meaningful way.
Film Freak Central
3.0
What hath Liam Neeson wrought.Its been seven years since the Oscar nominated star of Schindlers List starred in the violent revenge fantasy Taken and ..
Oregon Live
1.5
Embellishment with humanitarian issues cant alter The Gunmans irreparably bland premise.
2.0
Theres the usual cacophony of gunfights and car chases none of them particularly memorable but the films real fault is its hero, a glum, sour faced so ..
Mirror
2.0
Is it a serious political film tackling the plight of central Africa or a silly blast em up thats all about cheap thrills
Digital Spy
2.0
Co written by Penn, the film is never sure if its a political drama or an action movie; in the end its neither.
Games Radar
2.0
The more trouble Jim gets pulled into, the less attention director Pierre Moral pays to the reason hes there.The Gunman becomes a highly capable shoot ..
Tamp A Bay
2.0
But its almost like the rest of this movie is downwind of that locale.
Nz Herald
2.5
The Gunman is generic moviemaking that cant be lifted even by some usually solid performing players like Ray Winstone, Mark Rylance and Idris Elba.
Kansas City
2.5
Sean Penn would never become an Expendable; he doesnt seem to have the required sense of humor about himself.Quick: Name a movie starring Sean Penn an ..
Red Eye Chicago
2.5
Unfortunately, the film continually sidelines these intriguing ideas for more mindlessly violent mayhem.
Contact Music
1.9
Even better if it involves lots of exotic locations and stylishly executed shoot outs.
Christianity Today
2.0
The writing is wooden and Penn obviously knows it... If Penn is helpless against exposition heavy dialogue, what chance do the other actors stand
Hollywood And Fine
3.0
The Gunman emerges as a rugged adventure story which manages to evoke some plausibly murky political and geopolitical issues.
The Arts Desk
2.0
Kudos for cramming a moral compass in its bandolier, but The Gunman ultimately feels stodgy, stiff and, rather primly upset with its pinky out when it ..
The Filmy Ap
3.1
A dark European thriller like The Gunman usually requires a star who exudes cool detachment, not a firebrand like Sean Penn, who gamely proceeds in sp ..
Sltrib
2.5
In spite of its human rights background story and the presence of actor Sean Penn, The Gunman unspools as little more than a by the numbers action thr ..
Scmp
1.5
And thats one thing to be said about The Gunman: Penn actually makes a pretty good action star.
Ign
2.0
He starred in Gangster Squad (released in January 2013) and then had a small role in The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty (released in December 2013).
The Film Pie
1.5
Theres a mystery at the center of The Gunman, but it has nothing to do with the spycraft and international intrigue that drive its plot.Its simply thi ..
The Dissolve
2.0
Even in mediocre genre material, Penn is impossible not to watch, just a great screen presence.
Dead Line
2.5
Nothing could be more discouraging for admirers of Penns witty and unruly talent than this unimaginative performance.
Film Comment
1.0
The Gunman is a plastic thriller void of suspense or charm, missing its mark entirely.
One Room With A View
3.0
Really, its all about engaging in that ancient action movie pleasure of watching a well trained killer fight for his life and save his woman.
Sbs
1.9
Gire: Penns laughable Gunman misses every mark hello Sean Penn displays his brawn along with his automatic weapon in Peter Morels international thrill ..
Daily Herald
3.0
When The Gunman operates purely as an old school thriller, its a pretty good one.
Crave Online
2.5
Penn hasnt headlined an action thriller before, and the thought of him applying his skills and intensity to such a role is an exciting one.But concept ..
Mercury News
2.5
Too bad the metaphor is wasted on an ending that not only doesnt ring true, but contradicts everything that has gone before.
Bitly
1.0
The film takes itself as seriously as it possibly can, and relishes in its graphic violence.
Under The Radar Mag
1.9
The Gunman lacks the all killer, no filler efficiency of biggest success, Taken.
Movie Mezzanine
3.5
Ultimately, though, The Gunman is a thoroughly entertaining and intelligent mercenary tale with an excellent cast and a palpable approach to its viole ..
Or Lando Weekly
2.0
Despite the presence of those usually reliable actors, this is a film that is sunk by a leaky premise with Don MacPhersons adaptation of Jean Patrick ..
Bowling Green Daily News
2.0
Its not that action movies cant have a conscience, its just that a revenge thriller is not the best vehicle for political messages.
Lainey Gossip
3.1
Yes, there are plot holes aplenty, but the action is tautly staged by Morel and that makes The Gunman a satisfactory time passer.
Seattle Times
3.0
At one point in The Gunman, the new Sean Penn geopolitical thriller, our star goes surfing.Its supposed to show he has a reckless side, since hes surf ..
Guide Live
1.0
Maybe Jean Patrick Michettes book on which this is based was like this too, but Ill never know.Slow, sexist and stupid, THE GUNMAN is something you wo ..
Fresh Fiction
2.0
Bardem brings a welcome sense of humor to even the driest script.
East Bay Express
1.5
With Morel at the helm this was never going to be more than a dumb shoot em up and...well, dumb it certainly is.
1.0
Laughably sanctimonious for a Taken retread about a murderer whos too sexy for his shirt.
Seven Day Svt
3.5
What makes The Gunman rise above a forgettable action movie is its cast.
Fat Guys At The Movies
2.0
The Gunman is ultimately an action film without substance: too violent to be taken seriously, but too serious to be any fun.
Concrete Play Ground
3.1
Jim is a former bad guy himself, which lends an extra layer of moral ambiguity to the action; not enough to qualify as profundity, but at least its so ..
National Post
2.0
Director Pierre Morel hopes to repeat the unexpected success of Taken with this fast and furious tale of international duplicity.
Sky
2.0
Thank you for supporting the journalism that our community needs!.For unlimited access to the best local, national, and international news and much mo ..
Winnipeg Free Press
3.0
In what is likely to be the years most deliriously satisfying illustration of what happens when you feed a chick flick steroids, Blake Lively (Gossip ..
Tiny Url
2.0
For a movie that is supposed to be politically significant, its awfully retro colonialist.
Movie Mom
2.0
There is a baseline of filmmaking competence to The Gunman that rescues it from the gutter, but despite its star power it doesnt have a strong enough ..
Trespass Mag
2.5
Heavy on the gunfire and light on believability, The Gunman is a nice looking (lots of exotic locales) yet unsatisfying film barely kept afloat by its ..
Media Mikes
2.0
Watching Sean Penn jump cynically into the action pool for the first time in his career a la Liam Neeson makes us appreciate just how smoothly Neeson ..
Toronto Sun
2.5
Unfortunately, the shadowy outfit managing the contract has started tying up loose ends.
Theepoch Times
2.5
Ultimately, The Gunman is too absurd to take seriously and too serious to enjoy as a popcorn flick.
Columbus Alive
1.5
You dont know how to laugh with Sean Penn because he doesnt seem to find himself funny.
Grant Land
2.0
This self serious thriller tries to be more than what it really is.
Blog Bullz Eye
2.5
The Congolese setting remains a backdrop, no Heart of Darkness like moral morass, while director Pierre Morel cant produce any lights out action seque ..
Vue Weekly
2.0
Again, this would be fine if the film didnt drag itself out while reinventing the wheel.
Assignment X
1.0
But, being also the director of Taken, Morel finally settles into a rut of action cliches.
Sf Weekly
2.5
Its not a grand conspiracy thriller, though the story takes a turn in that direction.
Am Ny
1.0
The Gunman has plenty of big problems, but one of the biggest is the simple fact that its narrative doesnt really make any sense.
3.1
In those 007 staples, we expect and relish such silliness; here it cheapens the examination of righteousness and the human need for redemption.
Cambridge Day
2.0
The Gunman is depressingly bad, thanks to its plotting and world weary cast.They all look overheated and worn out.
Movie Chambers
1.5
While director Pierre Morel manages to build tension in parts of The Gunman, its pretty hollow considering we dont care much for Jim Terrier, Penns ch ..
Kaplan Vs Kaplan
1.9
Sorry, forgot about that.But dont worry: The Gunman often forgets about it too.
Free Beacon
2.5
Penn remains a furiously committed method actor, even in a paycheck role such as this one. But hes not enough to prevent the film from becoming the sa ..
Miami
1.7
It misleads audiences hoping for a girtty action thriller and ends up being a huge disappointment.
Schmoes Know
3.0
Director Pierre Morel is the real hero here, supercharging the genre material with touches of brilliance.
Little White Lies
2.5
(On the down side, the movie is marred by a truly stupid and unnecessary final scene.)
Commercial Appeal
3.0
The Gunman wants to be something much greater than it is. The political element is tacked on, the story is not nearly as intricate or clever as it thi ..
2.5
Terrier is a blood splattering hero up there with Schwarzenegger in Commando and Stallone in Cobra.Penns future in the Old Guy Action Movie genre is h ..
Esquire
1.5
While one can certainly see Penns attraction to a globe trotting, gun toting, hard loving role such as this, one also cant help but wonder how it all ..
At Home In Hollywood
2.0
The Cialis revenge genre isnt built around such fine ethical sentiments.
Seattle Weekly
2.0
... A muddled, confusing mess built around a disinterested Penn, who seems to have decided his work was done when he left the weight room.
Stardem
2.5
Its a serviceable story with the appropriate amount of bad guys, whodunits, plot twists, bombs bursting, guns flaring, etc. None of the suspense, thri ..
Dwight Brown Ink
1.5
It is largely a clichd scaffolding for certain violent set pieces, which are interesting as formal exercises of a kind, but have no long lasting emoti ..
World Socialist Web Site
3.0
The Gunman is well meaning, but it lacks the spark that made Taken such a compelling tale.
Fres Nobee
2.0
Penn stalks through The Gunman with pinched dyspepsia, looking as if he cant wait to punch someone in the nose
Ex Press
2.5
The Gunman might be Penns bid to step into an action franchise, but a talent of his caliber deserves better than this.
All Movie
1.5
Its closer to a horror story than a political one, though you might also look at it as a kind of political horror story.
Daily Public
2.0
Globalism has hit the action genre hard, and the movies coming out of the wreckage are apt to be more than a tad disappointing.
Japan Times
2.5
A Sean Penn vehicle affording the surprisingly buff (if long in the tooth) matinee idol ample opportunities to put his pecs on display in high impact ..
Baret News Wire
1.9
Its just another tourist salad bar of stale, limp man on the run clichs with chases, hand to hand combat, gunfire, and an hilariously pretentious sequ ..
Play Boy
2.5
Even though the film has an impressive cast line up offering a great mix of acting styles and accents, wonderful locations with some arresting moments ..
Zee News India
1.5
Penn shows off his muscles as well as his social conscience (shirtless, his forearms look as brawny as Popeyes), but with Taken director Morel at the ..
Movie Talk
1.5
Relentlessly, loudly violent, the well made Gunman is oddly compelling even when its stupid (often).
The Coast
2.5
Though every step of the way the movie feels telegraphed and unsurprising, the good thing is Morel knows how to shoot and stage action scenes very, ve ..
1.5
Sean Penn will have to wait for a better project if he wants to be the next Liam Neeson.
Butaca Ancha
4.5
Theres no dignity anymore and I think thats very important. The best way to behave is to misbehave. You only live once, but if you do it right, once i ..
Movies About
2.5
Unfortunately, the swipes at emotional depth and global relevance here only underscore how deeply dumb much of the rest of the movie is.
Madison Movie
1.9
However, the screenplay is uninvolving, often confusing and kind of a mess.
Ny 1
3.0
It is a wholly natural, completely unencumbered performance of pure sunshine: It is one of my favorite comedic performances of all time.And afterwards ..
The Concourse Deads
3.0
A tiresome waste of talent, this Gunman fires nothing but blanks.
Dork Shelf
2.5
Instead its a quandary of NGOs, poverty statistics and humanitarian efforts with an occasional shoot out sprinkled in for good measure.
Spliced Personality Word P ..
3.0
If the matador got gored, this would be a marginally better movie, but Sean Penns g.f. is too young for him, Javier Bardem is an embarrassment as a dr ..
Compuserve
1.0
The Gunman: Terrier Saved By The BullMoney and morals are definitely a difficult if impossible combination to pull off.
Wbai Radio Women Blog Spot ..
2.0
The Gunman not only falls short on the action itself, but it offers little else for the audience to enjoy.
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The Gunman