Decades after faking his death, a retired outlaw finds his quiet life suddenly interrupted by the arrival of an ambitious young gunman seeking notoriety in director Jacob Thompson’s Western “Gunslingers”.
The Western has been a staple of film and literature for well over a century, with each story containing most, if not all, of the famous tropes that have become legendary. Thompson’s Gunslingers is no different. Deeply rooted in its vast, dusty landscapes (the title alone tells you what this is all about), it’s a classic face-off between a hero and villain under the blazing midday sun. The script written by Tim Chamberlain leaves no cliché untouched; however, this isn’t a negative criticism because that’s what Westerns are: a collection of familiar scenarios filmed in a different way.
What makes Gunslingers stand out among contemporary Westerns is its use of real locations combined with visual effects to offer a digitally fresh approach to this iconic genre. Filmed over three days at The MacGregor Ranch in Estes Park and the Four Mile Historic House in Denver, Thompson weaves a classic tale using the sweeping cinematography of his photographers, Tim Brown and Cadence Marsolesk, who give the audience some beautiful, expansive locations to behold.
A number of scenes take place inside and outside, and the use of virtual sets helps to emphasize these landscapes and environments with stunning detail. The scenes are filmed in real-time, but some of the backgrounds are digitally enhanced, allowing for dynamic camera movements that wouldn’t be possible on location. Virtual skies are manipulated to create dramatic lighting or menacing shadows, adding a whole new level of visual storytelling. Imagine sweeping mountain ranges at the back with buildings and sheds in the foreground, or two people eating in a cramped but fully stocked 19th-century wooden hut surrounded by oil lamps, animal skins, and antlers. Some props are real, while others are not, with some moments filmed using green screens, while other scenes feel like they are on video screens. It goes to show how talented the people involved are, that trying to decide what’s real and what isn’t becomes almost impossible.
Thompson has a lot of creative control during the film’s 10-minute runtime. This allows for smoother transitions between different settings and maintains a common visual flow throughout the film. He is also able to manipulate the lighting which at times enhances the mood and atmosphere of each scene.
The film’s immersive environment also allows its actors to give more natural and grounded performances, as they can directly react to their surroundings. In Eric Jewett and Lucas Swope, we have two performers who look and feel like they completely belong in this genre.
Gunslingers is a fine Western worthy of praise for its special effects. However, it’s also important to acknowledge some flaws with the story itself that aren’t hugely exciting because, other than the final showdown, there isn’t a great deal of action albeit a lot of tension. Nevertheless, director Thompson and writer Chamberlain convince us that they have the potential to breathe new life into the classic Western movie while remaining true to its core spirit. For them and the University of Colorado, Gunslingers is a huge success and also a great calling card.
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