The Left Handed Gun

• 
  
  March 8, 2009

  organgrinder136

  paul newman seems to be suited for westerns as that's the only genre i can seem to stomach him in. here he plays the archetypal anti-hero and nails it. he was great in butch cassidy and the sundance kid too. left handed gun is well directed by arthur penn. i'll have to check out ...( read more)his other films. he seems to be a bit of a nihilist... almost like peckinpah.

  Share This Review
• 
  
  January 19, 2008

  thrusz

  Again, another solid outing for Paul Newman. I can't wait to write my review for Pocket Money, simply because I didn't like it very much. But it's great to have such a positive vibe after watching the abysmal Tora! Tora! Tora!.
  
  Now, I haven't seen Pat Garret...( read more)t and Billy the Kid. I actually know little about the Wild West, let alone the renegade Billy the Kid. But this really is an interesting story. Friend against friend when no one is really in the wrong. I imagine that the world has Hollywood-ized this initially tiny storyline, but who am I to complain? After all, it made an interesting event. Also, the whole theme of culpability among all branches of society, including law enforcement. A hell of a time.
  
  Now, I may be rating this one higher than it really is. I would probably never put this as one of my favorite movies of all time. But it was really entertaining. A tiny movie really. It does feel like a low budget Hollywood venture, but plays out a lot fuller than it should. Maybe that's what really struck me about this. It was a much bigger spirited movie than it was set out to be. Sure, there's a ton of goofiness that really doesn't need to be there. You can see this in the Kid's posse, but Newman hits his mark perfectly. Probably the biggest fault that this movie had was a subplot involving Billy's illiteracy. Perhaps it was a social statement, but it wasn't necessary at all and really din't come to fruition. All it did was create a sense of embarassment to allow Paul Newman to chew the scenery a little more. But overall, a very solid film.
  
  Finally, I'd like point out one shot in the movie to notice that I thought, at first, was really a failed moment but then proved to be one of the strongest choices by director Arthur Penn. There's a moment where a man running for his life looks into the sun, seeing the silhouette of the Kid out-of-focus. The scene comes into focus and the man realizes he is going to die. Really, you'd expect this kind of scene in a much classier film, but it landed in this one. Good for you, movie. Good. For. You.

  Share This Review
• 
  
  October 21, 2007

  myfavchords

  This film has another great performance by Paul Newman. It is not the best western but there are plenty of good moments. Watch for a very young James Best.

  Share This Review

No recent reviews.

This board looks lonely. Be the first to talk about "The Left Handed Gun" !

• Ainslie Pryor
• Colin Keith-Johnston
• Denver Pyle
• Hurd Hatfield
• James Best
• James Congdon
• John Dehner
• John Dierkes
• Lita Milan

This list looks lonely.
Add a suggestion!

• Who starred in the 1958 "Left Handed Gun?"  Answer »
• Who testifoed Barbara had the gun in her right hansd [ which is odd since she was left handed ] in I Want To Live ?  Answer »

No quizzes for The Left Handed Gun. Want to create one?

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

• josephchaina
• deadboy0149
• grnled16201

No recent headlines. Got one?

• 

  Favourite American Westerns

  by conkerthelad79
  31 Movies
• 

  Paul Newman

  by purpleroscoedo...
  24 Movies
• 

  The Complete Filmography of Paul Newman

  by MetalMario2
  57 Movies
• 

  The Films of Arthur Penn

  by rayman0071
  12 Movies
• 

  1958 Movies

  by Gauntlet84
  49 Movies

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?