THE GUNMAN

US/France, 2015, 115 minutes, Colour.
Sean Penn, Jasmine Trinca, Javier Bardem, Mark Rylance, Ray Winstone, Idris Elba.
Directed by Pierre Morell.



The Gunman is definitely a Sean Penn film. Not only does he star, he has some credits as a producer and as contributing to the screenplay. While this is an action story, there is strong critique of the methods of international corporations, their ruthlessness, the background to their bargaining for contracts and are not being afraid to stoop to murder to achieve their ends and cover all this up. Sean Penn concerns.


The film is based on a novel by French writer, Jean-Patrick? Manchette who died in 1995. His novels were action thrillers and his plot is taken here and updated to the 21st century.

The initial action takes place in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a group of ex-patriates, American, British, Spanish, seem to be an advisers on projects, with links to humanitarian activities in the area. It is 2006, issues of rebel fighting, governments working against corruption and a minister deciding that there will be a veto on international contracts. It is probably inevitable in these circumstances that he is assassinated.

The audience realises early in the piece that the expatriates are not as fun-loving or charming as they might seem. Penn plays Jimmy, the designated assassin, and has to leave the country instantly, even abandoning his girlfriend who works in a clinic in Congo. Her asks his Spanish friend to take care of her.

The action moves to 2014, with Penn again working in Congo, but this time for an NGO, seemingly regretting his actions in the past. When a gang of armed men appears on a worksite intent on killing him, he flees to London where he makes contact with one of his old associates, Cox (Mark Rylance) and tries to get information as to who might be pursuing him. His other London contact is Stanley (Ray Winstone) a tough type, especially in action in a London pub where Jimmy loses his cool, which leads to him being taken to a doctor and found that he has brain damage which threatens his life.

Nevertheless, of he goes to Barcelona to confront his other associate, Felix (Javier Bardem) who has married his girlfriend. All the action that one might have anticipated with such a title, Gunman, for a film, certainly takes place – and then some. We have already realised that, at 54, Sean Penn has decided that he also wants to be an action star (and the current director, Pierre Morrell, directed Liam Neeson in Taken). There are many, many scenes where Sean Penn has his shirt off giving obvious evidence that he has been many times to the gym and is keeping himself tough (a credit to the man listed in the final credits as his Personal Trainer).

The film also has action sequences in Gibraltar, introducing a CIA contact (Idris Elba).

The final action is symbolic and contrived, taking place in Barcelona and its bullfighting ring, enabling a confrontation between Jimmy and the villain, with bulls accidentally set loose and killing the villain. There is an important note in the final credits saying that Barcelona since 2011 is an anti-bullfighting city.

The description of The Gunmen is probably more exciting than the real thing, which has many points of interest, some alarming bloodshed and some goring in the arena, but at the end, with both noble repentance and love, it is not as satisfying as it might have been.


1. An action thriller? International? Corporations? Ruthlessness? Politics?

2. Adapted from the 20th century for the 21st century? Congo, the scenes in Kinshasa, in the village, the hotel and the assassination? 2006? The return to Congo, 2014, humanitarian work? Scenes in London, the wealthy office, the pub, hospitals? Barcelona, the beauty of the city, the countryside? The restaurant, the farm house? Attacks, shootouts? Gibraltar? Barcelona and the bullfighting ring – and a disclaimer about the city now? The musical score?

3. The action director and his career?

4. Introduction, 2006, rebels and the war, the international team, the bonding, the restaurants, drinks, friendship? Anna and her work as a nurse? Her love for Jimmy? Friendship with Felix? The Minister, denying the contracts? The corporations, the work, hopes, international connections? The plan for the assassination, the team, the motivation? The involvement of the men?

5. Sean Penn as Jimmy, as an action hero in his 50s? Tough, appearance, American, love for Anna and the bond with Cox, the workers, Felix and his asking him to look after Anna? His being chosen as the assassin, his keeping vigil in the hotel, the gun, shooting, the death of the Minister, his being got out of the country?

6. Eight years later, his humanitarian work, the quality of several MSC sisters sent an apology she did send a card Peter Price denial is apology to you pedicab war must be getting old because he NGO, the, the locals, collaboration? Trying to protect the workers? The gunmen, the fight, Jimmy and his skills, the deaths of the men, the shock of the local man?

7. Escaping to London, tracking down Cox, well-dressed, the office and its views, affluence? Cox and his manner, offering to supply information? The contrast with Stanley, tough, the meeting in the pub, the crab watching the football, the problem the fight, Jimmy’s collapse, come to the hospital, the’s MRI, the brain damage and the diagrams, the warnings, Jimmie throwing the scans away? Stanley and his helping with contacts in Barcelona?

8. Barcelona, come to Felix and his office, affluent? Audiences assuming that he might be the villain? Jimmy sang and, the adoption, the confrontation with Felix in his office? Felix’s threats about Anna, the plan for the dinner, Jimmie arriving, and his reaction? Jimmy wanted information, Felix’s promise?

9. And, her leaving, the later visit, the sexual encounter, memories of the past? The documents?

10. Going to the house in the country, the military types and their attack, Jimmie using his wits, helping and, the shooting, the escape? Felix and his drinking, his attitude, perhaps a death wish? Killed?

11. Gibraltar, Jimmy sitting on the bench, the approach of the CIA officer, the discussions, promise of help, later contacts? Present at the final confrontation at the arena?

12. Jimmy, the conference, Cox present, the discussion, Jimmie bashing the woman? The chase through the plant, hiding? And are being abducted? Cox’s thugs and their pursuit? Jimmy as the Gunman?

13. The arena, Cox and his associates, their pursuit of Jimmy, his killing them? The bullfighting, the parallel with Jimmy and Cox?

14. Anna, her escape, the pursuit, the accidental loosing the pools, the dangers, the rescue of Anna, Cox being caught?

15. The CIA, Jimmy and his repenting, being honest, getting the documents, the papers? Testifying? Jail sentence? His finely being reunited with Anna, her humanitarian work, Jimmy’s future?