by Frank Calvillo
I feel that the reason the western more or less fails with modern movie audiences is that there’s very little room to explore the genre thanks to a collection of staples and conventions which have become familiar and beloved tropes over the course of many decades. With the exception of Quentin Tarantino’s latest efforts, it’s because of this reason that the genre is reawakened as often as it is before being put back to bed once more when audiences feel that no new territory has been explored. Regardless of whatever production problems may have occurred, a serious round of applause should be given to the little-seen Jane Got a Gun for finding a fresh take on a well-worn story.
Natalie Portman stars as the titular Jane, whose husband, a former outlaw named Bill Hammond (Noah Emmerich), has just returned home riddled with bullets after a run-in with members of his old gang, who he and Jane deserted. As she is nursing Bill’s wounds, Jane decides to recruit her former love Dan Frost (Joel Edgerton) when she realizes the rest of the gang (headed by the ruthless John Bishop [Ewan McGregor]) is headed their way with an intent to destroy her home and her husband. However, enlisting Dan’s help means re-opening old wounds and stirring up emotions the two thought were long gone.
The title alone sets up Jane Got a Gun as a feminist shoot-em up western, and that is exactly what is delivered. In the film’s opening, Jane is instantly portrayed as the kind of loving wife and mother that she naturally is. Jane is painted in such a sweet maternal light that when the situation at hand presents itself, it’s a great dichotomy. However, although Jane is not instantly strong, there’s an inherent strength in her that she uses to build up to something more. As a wife and mother, Jane is forever carrying so much with her that this situation immediately goes far beyond vengeance for her. I suppose it would be easy for some to say that Jane is a male role played by a female, but the film makes sure that she is her own character, with both masculine and feminine aspects to her personality.
While there is no doubt that this is Jane’s story of how she exacts revenge against those which stole so much from her, the film takes great care in offering up a male protagonist with such a compelling tale of his own. When the audience first sees Dan, he is a broken man who has resigned himself to a life of solitude and loneliness. Immediately after Jane approaches him, feelings of anger and bitterness come rushing in as a result of her asking for his help. However it’s only when he realizes that his love for her never died that he agrees to take part. Watching Dan wrestle with trying to protect the woman he once gave his heart to while dealing with the hate and resentment towards the man she now loves makes for such a dynamic, conflicted character.
Portman is fantastic in the kind of role she should be taking given the kind of actress she is and the emotional depths which she’s proven she can reach. In her hands, Jane is both vulnerable and feminine, as well as strong and determined. It would be hard for some actors to take on a role opposite such a strong character as Jane, but Edgerton’s Dan holds his own, thanks to the actor having infused his character with a deep yearning for his former love. Emmerich, as always, is solid, while McGregor is positively magnetic as the film’s heavy. There isn’t a single scene where the actor doesn’t nail it.
A little more gunplay and a more drawn-out finale wouldn’t have hurt, but Jane Got a Gun is a film about character in a western setting, rather than a traditional shoot-em-up fest. And there’s so much to love about that, such as the self-contained element of Jane’s world and the way it makes her seem more isolated. The film has enough of the kind of western traits that fans of the genre grew up loving, all of which are heightened by great characters, top production qualities and a thoughtful feminist take.
Jane Got a Gun is now available on Blu-ray and DVD from Anchor Bay Home Entertainment.
