'The Gunman': Sean Penn is too fine an actor to be mired in nonstop shoot-outs
Pierre Morel, the director responsible for the 鈥淭aken鈥� franchise, which skyrocketed Liam Neeson into the action-hero stratosphere, has paired with Sean Penn in 鈥淭he Gunman.鈥� Backed by a mostly wasted cast that includes Javier Bardem and Ray Winstone, Penn plays a reformed ex-special forces military operative and international hit man attempting to shake off a squad of assassins who, eight years after some nasty doings in Congo, are heatedly pursuing him. Penn鈥檚 character is named Jim Terrier, which should give you some idea of this film鈥檚 subtlety quotient.聽
I doubt 鈥淭he Gunman鈥� will do much to advance Penn鈥檚 foray into action-hero bankability, and that鈥檚 probably a good thing. He鈥檚 too fine an actor to be mired in nonstop shootouts while flashing his pecs and looking scowly. Grade: C (Rated R for strong violence, language, and some sexuality.)
