The Gunman (2015 film)

The Gunman

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	2015 (2015)
Founder	Pierre Morel (director), Don Macpherson, Pete Travis, Sean Penn (writers)
Products	Action thriller film
Parent	StudioCanal, Silver Pictures, Nostromo Pictures

The Gunman is a 2015 action thriller helmed by director Pierre Morel and scripted by Don Macpherson, Pete Travis, and Sean Penn, adapted from Jean-Patrick Manchette's novel The Prone Gunman. The cast features Penn alongside Javier Bardem, Idris Elba, Mark Rylance, Jasmine Trinca, and Ray Winstone. The storyline centers on Jim Terrier (Penn), a mercenary who, under orders from multinational mining corporations, assassinates the Minister of Mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006. After retiring eight years later, Terrier and his associates become targets of assassination squads employed by a powerful global security company, compelling him to fight for his life. Distributed by Open Road Films on March 20, 2015, the movie failed to recoup its $40 million budget, earning $24.2 million worldwide and receiving largely negative critical feedback.

Plot

Jim Terrier, an American ex-Special Forces operative turned covert mercenary, is sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006 under the pretense of securing local projects for a corporation. There, he develops a romantic relationship with Annie, an NGO physician. Despite ongoing civil war devastation, multinational mining enterprises continue to profit from the area's resources. When the Minister of Mining intends to renegotiate contracts, these corporations hire Terrier’s unit to carry out his assassination. After completing the mission, Terrier escapes Africa and retires from mercenary activities.

Eight years onward, Terrier returns to the DRC working as a charity volunteer constructing wells. Following an attempt on his life by a local hit squad, he flees to London where he reconnects with former mercenary Cox. Cox reveals that their previous employer Felix Marti has established an international security firm catering to clients such as the Pentagon. To safeguard the company’s reputation, Marti is determined to eliminate all former members of their assassination teams. As Terrier is relentlessly hunted, his allies are killed and Annie is kidnapped.

Using incriminating evidence linking Cox to the Congo assassination, Terrier negotiates Annie’s freedom during a bullfight in Spain while covertly assisting Interpol’s investigation. Despite suffering serious head injuries rooted in his violent history, Terrier manages to fend off mercenaries pursuing him. In the climactic encounter, he wounds Cox, who subsequently meets his demise after being gored by a bull. Interpol apprehends Terrier; Agent Barnes pledges to advocate for reduced incarceration time.

The story closes with Terrier released from prison and reunited with Annie back in the DRC.

Cast

• Sean Penn as Jim Terrier
• Javier Bardem as Felix Marti
• Idris Elba as Jackie Barnes
• Mark Rylance as Terrance Cox
• Jasmine Trinca as Annie
• Ray Winstone as Stanley
• Peter Franzén as Reiniger
• Billy Billingham as Reed
• Daniel Adegboyega as Bryson
• Ade Oyefeso as Eugene

Development

In January 2013, French filmmaker Pierre Morel (known for Taken) entered negotiations to direct Sean Penn in Prone Gunman, an action thriller produced by Joel Silver and Andrew Rona of Silver Pictures. The project is adapted from Jean-Patrick Manchette's 1981 crime novel The Prone Gunman. Fully funded by StudioCanal, distribution rights were sold at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

By May 2013, reports from Deadline Hollywood indicated Javier Bardem would portray the antagonist. The following month saw Ray Winstone cast as a mentor figure to Penn’s assassin character who ultimately faces betrayal and pursuit by his own organization. Italian actress Jasmine Trinca was signed on as the female lead; Bardem was cast as her husband while Idris Elba took on the role of a secretive operative named Dupont.

On May 8, 2014, distribution rights for the United States were acquired by Open Road Films.

Filming

Principal photography took place during spring 2013 in various locations including Barcelona and Logroño in Spain, Gibraltar, Cape Town in South Africa, as well as at Wimbledon Studios in England.

Box office

The Gunman generated $10.7 million from the US and Canadian markets and brought in an additional $13.5 million internationally, culminating in a global total of $24.2 million against its $40 million production cost. The film debuted with a $5 million opening, securing the 4th position at the box office.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie holds a 15% approval rating derived from 180 critiques, with an average score of 4.4/10. The critical consensus reads: "Featuring a lackluster storyline and predictable sequences that fail to capitalize on its lead's physical presence, The Gunman emerges as a confused failure within the aging Over-50 Action Hero category." On Metacritic, it received a score of 39 out of 100 based on evaluations from 41 critics, signifying "generally unfavorable reviews." According to audience feedback collected by CinemaScore, the film earned a grade of "B−."

Guy Lodge from Variety characterized the film as a "formulaic, humorless thriller" and viewed it as an unpersuasive effort to reposition its star—who also co-wrote and produced—as a middle-aged action figure similar to Liam Neeson. Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post noted that while the movie begins with potential, it ultimately turns out to be "merely a lot of nonsense."