Livin' by the Gun (2011) Online

I took a chance and streamed this movie because of the "reviews" here. It is just so amateurishly awful - I could only last about 20 minutes. The "cast" looks like maybe they are friends and relatives of whoever was behind this. I've seen better acting in high school plays, seriously.

Then it dawns on me... the glowing reviews here must be by those same friends and relatives.

Looks like it was obviously someone's labor of love. The sets, makeup and costumes are pretty good, but everything else about this movie is really terrible.

This movie was, without a doubt, the absolute worst I have ever seen. I'm amazed that it made it onto the big screen... on the other hand, maybe it didn't make it onto the big screen; maybe it went straight to DVD. It is really very bad. What a shocker... I now find out that I have to write 10 lines of comment on this deplorable failed effort at entertainment. The acting was embarrassingly bad. The cast looks, AND acts, like maybe they are friends and relatives of whoever was behind this. I've seen better acting in high school plays, seriously. Those friends and relatives then wrote the glowing reviews wherein 8 of them rated the *cough cough* 'movie' a 10 (on a 10 scale) and 7 more rated it a 9... UNBELIEVABLE!

OK I love westerns, even BAD westerns but c'mon this has got to be the WORST acting in ANY movie ever made. Anyone that said ANYTHING good about this movie was getting paid. I managed five minutes and I wanted that back...and change. This is an insult to anyone that watches movies. If you manage ten minutes without fleeing even the sound of this then you are much more forgiving than I am. You had to be raised by your church going' grandma, against the death penalty. a tree hugger and be in line for sainthood to find anything redeemable in this movie INCLUDING the beginning credits. The entertainment industry must have a lot of money stashed somewhere to invest or distribute this chestnut. Watch a rerun of Rifleman....but leave this stinker where it lays.

I've been in love with westerns all of my life and for me there is simply nothing better than watching a good one but absolutely nothing worst than sitting through a bad one and I'm sorry but this is about as bad as they come.I really did try but I could only last about 15 minutes because every time an 'actor' opened their mouth I cringed. The acting is so atrocious that at first I thought it was a spoof, then on clicking on each of the cast names I noticed that this was the only movie most of them have been in so maybe they were just friends helping out. As for all the positive reviews, if you genuinely liked the film, fine, but comparing it to The Wild Bunch, True Grit or Shane is really just an insult to some of the America's greatest film makers.

Most of the other bad reviews pretty much sum up the awful, uninspiring acting. But it's really bad on other levels as well. As a master carpenter and pioneer crafts enthusiast, I found the set to be utterly absurd. If I was playing a drinking game based on all the non period correct flubs, I'd be 3 sheets to the wind in 15 minutes. Just a few examples, because the movie was too painful to endure for more than that long.

1st scene: The oil lamp chimney is smooth glass with a flat cut top. Not the flared rippled top as ALL oil lamps of that period had. No carbon stains on the glass at all, just a brand new prop from Walmart, filled with water, just like the brand new stamped steel tray next to it. 2nd scene: The porch posts were finger jointed and CNC turned, neither of which existed back then, clear as day right above the "vote" sign (which also used v-match t&g milling. This also did not exist yet). It was incredibly expensive to get hand turned posts from the east, sent by train. They simple didn't use them for ordinary structures. Only the richest of the rich used ornate dimensional lumber. I mean, you could have smeared mud on them or something; dinged them up a little. NO doors back then had glass in them, except for banks. ALL glass was reserved for windows only on east, south and west facing walls. The glass was also "wavy" glass, no larger than 14" square for those that have done any glazier work and/or restoration, you know the deal. These details indicate to me that whoever was in charge of the set, didn't know half of what they should have or simply didn't care. It completely lacked any authenticity for me. Anybody that reads wild western period literature knows this stuff. The director and/or set manager clearly does not. In addition to bad acting, there's entirely too much dialog, and CHEESY, predictable dialog at that...poorly delivered. There's no unspoken body language which serves to express and carry a scene without the non period correct chit chat. Many of the best Westerns are great because of this. Up to the first 7 minutes there could have been zero dialog and still would have accomplished more to convey tension and emotion than what was. This movie is like a bad first draft of a bad high school play. A tired script and story line of poorly executed, cliché characters.

The film quality and cinematography was excellent, good job there. The audio and music was OK, but could have used a little more silence. Good mix and production. That's the only redeeming quality to this joke of a movie. The positive reviews are clearly people involved with the movie. It's best to just put this lame horse out of it's misery.

from the first lines spoken i knew this would be one of the worst films ever made. the only person who deserves any praise is the one who was able to raise the money to make it. however that was done is a miracle. if however someone chose to invest their own money in this endeavor i have a bridge to sell them.

when i see films this bad they remind me of something my father once said to me when i was kid. we were at the local cinema and the film was really bad. less than half way into it most of the audience had left. i asked my dad why we weren't leaving and he said that in order to appreciate the better films you need to experience the bad ones too. but my father could have never foreseen a film this bad being released.

Time is precious and once it's gone you can't have it back....and sadly I watched this movie to the end knowing that it would never get better no matter how long I watched it....and no I'm not a troll I'm just guy who wasted almost 2 hours watching this mess when I could have been playing catch with my son or helping my daughter fix her doll house....may god have mercy on my soul for the wasted time.

What can I say that most other reviewers haven't already said? This "movie" is a total failure on virtually every conceivable level. About the only good things about it are the cinematography--which is actually pretty good--and the music, which is at least bearable. Everything else about it--and I mean EVERYTHING--is laughable. The reciting--in no way, shape or form could it be called "acting"--is universally abysmal (the worst by far is by the "leading lady"), the writing is a jumbled, convoluted mess, the direction is virtually nonexistent, the fart jokes aren't funny (yes, there's a character who actually farts loudly several times before he's thankfully killed off), even the sound effects are 12th-rate. A complete and utter waste of time. There's probably a movie somewhere on this planet that's worse than this thing is, but with any luck I'll never see it. Avoid this mess at all costs.

. The title, Livin' by the Gun, identifies the film as a morality play, so even before the violent opening sequence, we expect that the hero will also die by the gun. The story is similar to the arguable exemplar of the genre, George Stevens' Shane: a noble man turned gun fighter and trapped by his past. In Stevens' version the gun fighter is sympathetic because he exemplifies the 40s-50s hero—a man of integrity, alone, misunderstood, yet of high moral character. Miller's protagonist, Uncle, however, is considerably more complex. He spends a good deal of his life as a gun for hire, apparently frighteningly indifferent to the suffering of others. In fact, in countless scenes he shows little or no emotion as he plies his ruthless trade. At one point, Uncle shoots two young bounty hunters who are trying to apprehend him. The callow youths do not die immediately or easily, so after they endure a night of unspeakable suffering, Uncle dispatches them quickly, perhaps to put them out of their misery, or possibly because their constant moaning is an annoyance. At this point, we are not sure whether Uncle is a cold-blooded sociopath with poor impulse control, or a man trapped by circumstances. Perhaps he still possesses a divine spark that if nurtured, could lead him to nobility. As it turns out, Uncle is indeed transformed into his better self, at least temporarily, through the love of a hooker with a heart of gold, and the kindness of a God-fearing, elderly, Christian couple, but alas, it is too late. The die has been cast. Uncle's niece is mistakenly convinced that he is the source of her family's dire straits, so early in the film she sets out on a parallel path to avenge her family. A young girl alone in woods, armed, and searching for the object of her revenge will inevitably be put in the position of defending herself and others. Soon her body count, including unintended victims, rivals her uncle's. Yet she, too, is temporarily redeemed by love, and like her uncle reverts to relying on her earlier limited problem solving set (kill it) when life's vicissitudes bring bitter disappointments and injustices that are just too much to bear.

Miller's film brings to mind Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch. Released in 1969 it set the standard for cinema violence. While Miller doesn't rival Peckinpah in number killed, his percentage of the cast killed is very high. I counted thirty-two killed and I'm sure I missed some. So why all the violence? Everyone knows that if you live by sword, you die by the sword. We knew that before the film started. Yet the atomistic myth of self-reliance that exemplifies the genre too often overlooks the compelling evidence that man is a social animal in a social setting, and the decisions about how we live our lives has a ripple effect. If violence is one's only or preferred solution set, it's impossible to know the limit of those who will be affected. Miller's story reminds us of the collateral damage that such an approach to life will of necessity inflict. The lesson is as old as the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane and as modern as reoccurring present-day tragedy of the toddler killed by a drive-by shooter aiming for a rival gang member. So, if you're squeamish regarding film violence, be prepared to spend a good portion of the film with your eyes covered.

Miller's love of the Gold Country shines through the mud and the mayhem much as Woody Allen's love of Manhattan does in his films. Like some Coen Brothers films, the location plays an integral and major though silent role; it is ever present, impossibly beautiful, and in marked contrast to the death and ugliness of soul perpetrated by the human members of the cast. Another delightful surprise was a haunting and skillful original score and engaging vocals.

So if you're looking for a slick Hollywood production complete with movie stars or a 50's type western, this will not be your cup of tea. If what you want is a truly beautiful film with an excellent score then Livin' by the Gun is for you.

Just terrible..........................................................

I saw "Livin' by the Gun" last week and again on Sunday. I enjoyed it both times. A fellow sitting in front of us called it a modern Greek tragedy. I agree.It is a Greek tragedy set in the 1880s. This is a western that doesn't rely on endless galloping horses across open plains. It is a tight drama that depends of dialog not scenery. Still, the scenery and the locations are authentic and beautiful. Also, the tone, color and music remind me of Kevin Costner's "Hatfields and McCoys." My friend even said the "Hatfields and McCoys" and "Livin' by the Gun" came from the "same litter" The main character reminds me of Costner, Sam Elliot, and Tom Selleck, combined. His mustache my be better.

Certainly not a top notch high dollar production, so the bad reviews by some are understandable. On the other hand, there's plenty to like about it, such as the use of more period correct props and wardrobe than usually seen in most Westerns. If only the more highly rated films could adopt what's good about Living By The Gun, but keep the more polished look and feel of those better rated films, we may finally see the perfect Western. Full disclosure: To the best of my knowledge, I am not "friends" with, nor a "relative" of anyone appearing in, or involved in making, this film.

I am a great fan of westerns, and so few good ones are made any more, so I was really impressed with this film. It has all the traditional western motifs, with a little bit of The Searchers and a dash of classic Tragedy (for fans of theater). Well done movie, full of emotion and action. The reviewer above sounds suspiciously like either an internet troll or a frustrated wannabe. It was a good film, great script with characters of depth and complexity, good production values, solid acting and authentic settings, costumes and even dialogue. If only more of this high standard Western could be brought to film. Kudos to Miller and his production.

I ordered it three weeks ago. It was worth the wait. Living by the Gun is better than the westerns I grew up with. They were fun but not very realistic. Living by the Gun felt real. There were no drop holsters until Hollywood invented them. This movie avoided the unauthentic look of Hollywood westerns. Everything, costumes,tack, language and sets were a pleasure to enjoy. I read in one of the reviews that it is like a Greek tragedy. It is better than a Greek tragedy, it's an old west tragedy. The Uncle lived a tragic life like so many of the early pioneers. The rest of the cast looked authentic. Most westerns today are populated by pretty people that look out of place in the old west. I hope they make a sequel about the Niece and what happens to her.

I loved this movie! It was the high light of the Film Fest Twain Harte. One of the best westerns I've seen. It was pure, authentic and intense. The protagonists were great, menacing yet tenderly human. I loved the themes of simplicity, with dialogue and story. I loved the portrayal of these people's simple faith as exemplified by the Fords. This was how these pioneers made sense of their lives, lives that were brutal, harsh and often short. The sets,costumes and music were terrific. The camera work was outstanding. The technology( guns,bridles, saddles, etc.) were accurate and in keeping with the period.All great westerns are about good, evil and big emotions. Nothing existential or imbued with heavy doses of psychology. Great movies move you emotionally and this movie is no exception. Well done!

I did a part in this movie, even though I am not listed in the cast on here. I am in the credits at the end of the film. I play a saloon girl. This was a fun movie to be in and James Miller is a great Director. I am so glad Lion's Gate bought this film it was much deserved, such great people that came together to make this all happen, truly wonderful people. I think this film deserves great reviews, so much time and effort went into it's filming. I hope James makes another film, I would love to do another part. Take the time to watch this film about the old west in the 1800's and the way people use to live, it's history in the making.

As a former Instructor at the University of Southern California Film School (now living in Norther California's Mother Lode), I was pleasantly surprised at both the technical professionalism, perceptive writing, and first-class acting in James Miller's Livin' by the Gun. It is a western that deals extremely well with the traditional issues of revenge and redemption on the American frontier. It is a western that makes you care about the characters. Bolstered by an excellent film score that sets the tone for the non-stop action that follows. The locations add to the feeling of authenticity. I'm looking forward with great anticipation to this director's next effort, hoping it will not take as long (four years) to bring this new work to the screen.

My girl friend and I saw Livin by the Gun at the Twain Harte Festival. We really enjoyed it. It reminded me of the new True Grit, with a few differences. Both movies were period correct. The characters, from extras to main actors were realistic. The characters in Livin by the Gun reminded me of the characters in the HBO series Deadwood. They weren't glamorous. They were rough and real. The locations in both movies looked authentic and added to the story. The camera work was better in Livin by the Gun, in setting the mood of the story. The sound track of Livin by the Gun was outstanding and helped to add to the major difference between the two movies, which is, Livin by the Gun has way more emotion. It even made my girl friend cry.

Acting was wooden....but lots of shoot outs ....and good story line