DIE IN A GUNFIGHT

US, 2021, 92 minutes, Colour.

Diego Boneta, Alexandra Daddario, Justin Chatwin, Wade Elaine-Marcus, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Travis Fimmel. Narrated by Billy Crudup.

Directed by Collin Schiffli.

The title sounds as if it should be for a Western. However, it is a contemporary drama.

What is distinctive about the film is its visual style and way of narrative. It opens like the visualising of a graphic novel, the sketches, the characters, action. It is a comicstrip narrative, focusing on the central character, Ben, but allowing himself to be bullied, and stating that he would like to die in a gunfight.

The screenwriters have an eye on Romeo and Juliet, Capulets and Montagues, this time tycoons who have been in conflict since the 19^th century, duels, rivalries, building up huge media empires and buildings. One family disapproves of its son, Ben, his rebellion. The other family is exasperated with its daughter, Mary, bad behaviour, expelled from schools, sent to Paris to improve herself. On her return, Ben and Mary meet again, explanations, bonding, love, and build up to a wedding ceremony.

The film is narrated by Billy Crudup.

Diego Boneta is Ben and Alexandra Daddario is Mary. Justin Chatwin appears as the sinister minder, intent on marrying Mary, linked with thugs. There is also a mysterious couple, the Australian-accented Wayne and his girlfriend Barb, Wayne played by Travis Fimmel. He provides something of a 21^st-century graphic novel Shakespearean commentator with a touch of violence and a touch of humour.

This is the kind of film that critics tend to turn up their noses at. It is also the kind of film, especially with the graphic novel sensibilities that appeal to a younger, graphic novel and computer games audiences.

1. The title? The hero’s ambition? And achievement!
2. The American city, the world of affluence, media empires, mansions, the contrast with dark streets and neighbourhoods, small apartments? A trip to Paris? The musical score?
3. The visual style and mode of communication, reliance on the style of the Graphic Novel, animation, depiction of characters, situations, comicstrip panels? Bright colour? The transition to realism and back again? The target audience with this style? Younger, graphic novel fans?
4. The credibility of the plot, stylised, love, separation, out of love, reuniting? The variation on Romeo and Juliet and the Capulets and the Montagues?
5. The background of the families, the 19^th century, wealth, duels, betrayals, enmity? The 20^th century tradition, empires, media, buildings? Influence? The 21^st-century, rivalries, yet collaborations? Government investigations? The hiring of thugs?
6. Ben’s story, the introduction, his background, growing up, in fights, bullied, challenges, wanting to die in a gunfight? The pressure from his parents? Leaving home, his friends, drinking, drugs, gatecrashing parties? Leaving home? Love for Mary, her sudden disappearance, his communication, no replies? Going to Mexico, the graphic novel incident and his falling on Mukul? Their bonding? His return? Meals, his parents, reactions? Love for his mother?
7. Mary’s story, wealthy, schools, behaviour, expelled, parents exasperated, her love for Ben, the separation, her writing, no replies? Behaviour, friends, wildlife? Return home? Meeting Ben again, talk, explanations, reuniting love?
8. Ben, the encounter with Wayne and Barb, Wayne and his talk, the Australian accent, calling Ben rabbit, the fights? The later encounters, his being commissioned to follow Ben, the fight with the thugs? Besting them? The final confrontation, the security guard, leaving Barb in the car, his death?
9. Terrance, commissioned to follow Mary, Paris, his declaration of love? Her return, her father’s employing him, tough encounters, the thugs, asking Mary to marry him, trying to persuade her father? With Wayne? Information about the wedding, hurrying to the site, guns, confrontation, Wayne’s death, Mary shooting him?
10. Ben’s mother, the news of the wedding, wanting the dress, helping Mary, Mary’s mother and the phone call? The wedding, the intrusion, confrontations, the shootings?
11. The Romeo and Juliet kind of ending? In a graphic novel way?