Big Gay Picture Show

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema and more

Taking a look at the world of film through gay eyes - news, reviews, trailers, gay film, queer cinema & more

The Gunman (Blu-ray Review)

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Until recently the prospect of Sean Penn starring in a movie meant that while the film was likely to be a little bit tedious, he would be extremely good in it and the movie would be worth a watch. However, with Gangster Squad, Walter Mitty and The Gunman, he seems to be trying his hand at more standard fare.

Unfortunately though, all the Gunman offers is more of what we’ve seen 1,000 times before. In fact, I almost wonder if in the pact actors make with Hollywood, it includes a clause that makes it compulsory for them to star in at least one movie about an assassin having an existential crisis. [Read more…]

The Gunman International Trailer – Sean Penn is an assassin in trouble

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gunman-uk-posterSean Penn is known for being picky and a bit idiosyncratic with his movie roles, generally avoiding typical Hollywood fare, but there’s no doubt The Gunman doesn’t sound like anything particularly unusual. Let’s hope the great cast – which includes Javier Bardem, Idris Elba, Ray Winstone and Mark Rylance – can raise it above the generic.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘In THE GUNMAN, directed by Pierre Morel, Sean Penn stars as a former Special Forces soldier and military contractor suffering from PTSD. He tries to reconnect with his long time love, but first must go on the run from London to Barcelona and across Europe in order to clear his name.’

The suggestion of PTSD may explain what attract Penn, allowing him to stretch his acting muscles more than most assassin tales.

The Gunman hits UK cinemas on 20th March. [Read more…]

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The Gunman Trailer – Sean Penn turns assassin but gets targeted himself

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gunman-sean-pennThe Gunman certainly has a great cast, led by Sean Penn alongside Javier Bardem, Idris Elba, Ray Winstone and Mark Rylance. Indeed getting such a cast of luminaries together is surprising as the plot makes it sound like pretty standard stuff – hopefully the film itself will offer something more.

Pierre Morel (Taken) directs based on the novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Deadly professional assassin Martin Terrier returns to Paris after his latest job determined to get out of the game. Ten years ago he made a promise to return to his childhood sweetheart in the south of France. But circumstances put Martin’s attempted retirement on hold: a key target is flying in to Paris, and there is only one man fit for the task of eliminating him. As Martin flees southwards, desperate to return to the crushing mediocrity of life in a backwater town, he finds his former employers will stop at nothing to regain his services for one last job. Bursting with Gallic irony and visceral brutality, The Gunman (originally published in English as The Prone Gunman) is a shocking and sardonic masterpiece from the late, great master of the French crime novel, J-P Manchette.’

A February 20th UK release is set, and it’ll arrive in the US March 30th. [Read more…]

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First Look At Sean Penn Looking Dirty & Armed In The Gunman

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Sean Penn may have only just started shooting The Gunman recently, but the first image from the movie has already been released, via USA Today, showing Penn looking a bit stressed, dirty and, as the title suggests, holding a gun.

The Gunman is based on a novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette. It follows an international operative, Jim Terrier (Penn), who is betrayed by his handlers and goes on the run. Penn tells USA Today, “Calling it an ‘action film’ is kind of like calling Meryl Streep a sexy blonde chick. She is. But that really doesn’t tell the story of what she is at all.”

He adds, “I don’t separate this in my mind from anything else I have done. It’s a very human story that deals with the same things exploited in action films, like warfare.”

The film also stars Jasmine Trinca as Terrier’s love interest, Javier Bardem as her husband, Idris Elba as a mysterious operative, Ray Winstone as Penn’s mentor, and Mark Rylance as one of his enemies. It’s currently filming in Europe with Pierre Morel directing.

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Ray Winstone Up To Sean Penn, Javier Bardem and Idris Elba In The Gunman

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ray-winstoneOn Friday we reported that Idris Elba is in talks to join Sean Penn and Javier Bardem in the thriller The Gunman. Now another Brit may sign up, as Deadline reports that Ray Winstone is likely to be part of the cast, as is Italian actress Jasmine Trinca.

The Gunman is based on a novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette. It follows an international operative (Penn) who is betrayed by his handlers and goes on the run. Winstone is set to play one of those handlers, who’s been Penn’s mentor up to that point. It isn’t known who Trinca will play.

No specifics have been released about Bardem’s role, although it’s presumed he’ll be the villain. Elba meanwhile is up to play a mysterious operative called Dupont, although it’s not clear if he’s working with or against Penn.

Pierre Morel (Taken) is set to direct from a script by Pete Travis. Shooting is slated to begin in Barcelona and other European locations later this month.

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Idris Elba In Talks To Join Sean Penn & Javier Bardem In The Gunman

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Idris-ElbaJust a few days ago, Javier Bardem signed up to star alongside Sean Penn in The Gunman (previously known as Prone Gunman). Now they may have some more company, as THR reports that Idris Elba is in talks to join them.

The Gunman is based on a novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette. It follows an international operative (Penn) who is betrayed by his handlers and goes on the run. No specifics have been released about Bardem’s role, although it’s presumed he’ll be the villain. Elba meanwhile is up to play a mysterious operative called Dupont, although it’s not clear if he’s working with or against Penn.

Pierre Morel (Taken) is set to direct from a script by Pete Travis. Shooting is slated to begin in Barcelona and other European locations later this month.

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Javier Bardem Joins The Gunman & Will Also Have A Most Violent Year

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javier-bardemJavier Bardem is going to be busy, as TheWrap reports that he’s lined up two new roles. He’s signed up to star in J.C. Chandor’s A Most Violent Year and is also in talks to co-star with Sean Penn in The Gunman.

Bardem is the first name attached to A Most Violent Year. Based on an original screenplay by Chandor, who directed Margin Call, the film will have Javier as the a hero, but there’s no info on the plot. We’re presuming though that there’ll be plenty of violence taking place over a year. Shooting is scheduled to begin in Manhattan this autumn.

Originally called Prone Gunman, The Gunman is based on a novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette. It follows an international operative (Penn) who is betrayed by his handlers and goes on the run. There’s no specifics on Bardem’s role, although it is suggested he’ll be the villain in this one. Pierre Morel (Taken) is set to direct.

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Director Pierre Morel Takes On Sean Penn Thriller Prone Gunman

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pierre-morelSean Penn isn’t normally thought of an action star, but it looks like he’s giving it a go and getting Taken helmer Pierre Morel to help him, as THR reports Morel is now in talks to take on the film Prone Gunman.

News of Penn’s involvement in the movie first stirred late last year. It’s based on the novel of the same name by Jean-Patrick Manchette and has Penn set to star as a hired gun called Martin Terrier, who is trying to retire from his profession. After his failed attempt to leave his chosen life, he ends up in a brutal cat-and-mouse chase across Europe. Manchette’s book has been described as existentialist, as much a look at the human condition as an action film – which is probably what Penn likes.

The hope is to get the movie up and running pretty quickly. If Morel does sign on, the hope of to shoot the movie this spring in Eastern Europe.

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Pierre Morel Takes On The Hitman’s Bodyguard

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The success of Taken made it seem like Pierre Morel was going to become a big director in Hollywood. While he’s released From Paris With Love since then, many of his other planned projects, such as Dune, Bastille Day and Ouija have fallen apart.

Now Morel is trying to move forwards with another movie, as he is in negotiations to take the helm on The Hitman’s Bodyguard. Tom O’Connor wrote the screenplay, which landed on the 2011 Black List. The movie is about a protection agent who is assigned to escort a hitman to The Hague, where he will testify against a war criminal.

David Ellison will produce through his Skydance Productions company, alongside Dana Goldberg. It isn’t known when the movie might shoot. (Source: THR)

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Pierre Morel Celebrating Bastille Day

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Pierre Morel scored a big hit with Taken, but while From Paris With Love wasn’t as big a success, the director is sticking with making big action movies set in France, as he has has signed on to direct Bastille Day, according to THR.

Andrew Baldwin wrote the screenplay, which is about an aging CIA agent and an American artist living in Paris, who have to team up to stop an upcoming attack on city.

Andrew Baldwin has also written the Logan’s Run remake for Warner Bros. and The Outsider, a Black List script also set up at Warner Bros., which Daniel Espinosa is directing.

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