Gunslinger's Revenge (1998)

Fresh and Exciting

The acting in this movie is really good.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This spaghetti-western is worth watching only because of one thing. O.K., maybe two: the stars of the project are Harvey Keitel and David Bowie. During the first half of the movie we're dealing with some strange combination of a cowboy story, comedy (not very bright, I must say) and... family movie. Well, it's boring and it reminded me of TV series called, yes, yes , "Dr, Quinn". Something interesting starts to happen when Bowie gets on the stage, but for his appearance we have to wait for a fifty minutes (fifty three, to be more specific). If you're a fan of the "rock'n'roll chameleon", you'll see this one anyway. In case you don't admire the gentleman, you should forget about "Il mio west" - it's the kind of a flick that makes you think: why the hell someone decided to film this?

I liked this film for many reasons. For one, many Native actors were involved, although it was a little on the Hollywood side. Another reason: Sandrine Holt. Even though she's not Native in real life, she may as well be one because she looks way more like a First Nations person than anything else. I love how she portrays Native people in films! I'm surprised that this one was completely directed and produced by Italians! Why on earth would that be the case? I mean it's a historically fictional Western. Fortunately it's not another one of those spaghetti westerns where Clint Eastwood does his heroic stuff, although I like Clint Eastwood too.One thing did bother me about Johnny Lowen, it was obvious that he lip-synced his dialogue. Now, I think it was really dumb to have Italian actors and actresses in this one because it ruined the film. Obviously he can't speak a word of English in real life so I just feel that it was stupid to have a voice-over come in and speak for him!! I noticed that he was the only one who lip-synced his words. Other than that, it's still a fine film. The Native actors were great as they usually are and Sandrine Holt was also great. But what I found strange is WHY Jack Sikora confronted Johnny Lowen. The reasons for this were never given. Perhaps it was one of things where the viewers had to figure out on their own. Some films will do that where the audience draws their own conclusions. That was an important detail that the audience had every right to know. Anyways...... that's why I gave this one an 8 out of 10.

Beginning with his first line of dialogue, one hopes that the main character (Leonardo Pieraccioni) will get shot. The kid is tedious. Keitel can't do anything with the script (and you can't blame him for not really trying). I don't understand the complaints about Bowie ... he's cliché, and the accent is horrid, but his scenes are the only ones offering any semblance of entertainment. But it's the dialogue, story, and main actor that kill the film. The main characted give his lines in English, but has clearly been dubbed by a native speaker (unfortunately, not an actor). To call the result "wooden" would give ply-wood a bad name. Attempts to reclassify it as a some sort of intentionally pastiche cult comedy are wishful thinking. Not that the film doesn't inspire a degree of laughter ...

Shot in the Apennines mountains in central Italy, by Italian Box Office breaker Piraccioni and his friend Veronesi, this 'comedy'- of- sorts makes us crave for the days of REAL spaghetti-westerns... Apparently Bowie wanted to 'have fun' and "work with Harvey Keitel, an actor I very much admire...". Unfortunately he/they chose a bummer. This is no "Once upon a time in the West" by 'maestro' Sergio Leone. Egos clashed a few times, and , worst of all, the outcome of this Eurotrash venture is soggy stuff. Such good taste as a musician (Bowie) doesn't guarantee the same when it comes to choosing a script. I hope he enjoyed the Italian cuisine, at least! p.s. Mr Keitel, on the other hand, has a shoddy 'track record' too, with the exception of a handful of 'stand out' films and roles... thank God he hasn't learned to sing!