The Gunman
The Gunman
R | 20 March 2015 (USA)
The Gunman Trailers

Eight years after fleeing the Congo following his assassination of that country's minister of mining, former assassin Jim Terrier is back, suffering from PTSD and digging wells to atone for his violent past. After an attempt is made on his life, Terrier flies to London to find out who wants him dead -- and why. Terrier's search leads him to a reunion with Annie, a woman he once loved, who is now married to an oily businessman with dealings in Africa.

Reviews
Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined
Iseerphia All that we are seeing on the screen is happening with real people, real action sequences in the background, forcing the eye to watch as if we were there.
Myron Clemons A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.
Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
juneebuggy I actually liked this one quite a bit once I figured out what was going on, it was a little vague in the beginning. It starts in the Congo, at first I thought Sean Penn was an aid worker but turns out he's an assassin, hired to by some big company to take out the minister of mining so that that company can make the big $$$. The successful kill shot sends Penn into hiding without a word to his lover. 8 years later someone starts taking out the assignation team, he goes on a global chase to figure out who.This (tries) to have a bit of a Jason Bourne feel, with government conspiracy, Interpol, who can I trust and some very decent/competent fight & action scenes. Its also another vehicle for an over 50 action star.On that note Sean Penn is in fantastic shape, like really ripped with zero body fat, showcased with multiple shirtless scenes however as the movie goes on it's too much, like half the movie he is shirtless or sleeveless, showing his abs or just plain naked. It became a bit of a joke actually as the very serious political thriller story is overshadowed by the star's physique.The (unrequited) love story is nothing new, with his lady love (Jasmine Trinca), just another hapless damsel in distress role but I liked it. Javier Bardem is a sleazy, drunk, jealous character, Idris Elba is just hot... I think he worked for Interpol, didn't care just wish he had been on screen more. Worth checking out.
alon-dar1 I really expected much, at least an 8 out of these 2 amazing actors, Sean and Javier Bardem. I did not expect such a disappointing, boring, stupidly written "thriller" I rented the movie and felt sorry for every cent i paid, is Penn turning into Cage? What happens to these actors as they get older? and Javier? this actor played so bad, if there was an Oscar for bad acting he would get it. The holes in the plot are huge, the acting terrible, the story idiotic and boring, the directing slow and tiring. Don't watch it. i gave it a 3 because of my good manners, it should get a 1. If there is a movie that should have not been made, it is this one (and some of nick's, and Vin......)
babblemac Not a great film, but for me a good tale, with a convincing character portrayal by Penn as a very conflicted mercenary caught up in the horrific war for mineral wealth in the DRC. He draws the audience into his crises of conscience and his deep love for Jasmine Trinke's character. She is quite good, but her role is a bit 2 dimensional.Javier Bardem's character is a little bizarre and creepy, but then isn't he always? Ray Winstone is his usual rough-diamond self and possibly underused in his role as mercenary / friend to PennIdris Elba is really wasted in the small role he is asked to give.But still a good screen presence.Cynics might say the subject is passé, but there are few movies of this genre to tackle the global corporate and government greed that kept this war going for decades DRC. Worth watching, if you liked 'Blood diamonds' although not as good.
Roland E. Zwick Based on the novel "The Prone Gunman" by Jean-Patrick Manchette, "The Gunman" is a conventional action-movie potboiler featuring a roided- out Sean Penn as an ex-special ops agent and professional assassin whose violent past is coming back to haunt him. The plot also encompasses a tedious love triangle, with Penn and Javier Badem duking it out over Jasmine Trinca ( though at least that part of the plot is done away with in reasonably short order). Written by Penn, Don Macpherson and Pete Travis and directed by Pierre Morel, this muddled mishmash of romantic entanglements, geopolitical intrigue, endless shootouts and personal redemption tale feels halfhearted and minor-league at best, despite the high- caliber talent in front of the cameras. Idris Alba, Mark Rylance and Ray Winstone are also part of the cast, but the fact that the majority of the film takes place in sunny Spain (it culminates at a bullfight, of all places!) makes us suspect that the actors were looking more for an all-expenses-paid European vacation than any kind of cinematic legacy when they signed on to be a part of "The Gunman."