Shoot is a 1976 American and Canadian film directed by Harvey Hart and written by Richard Berg, based on the novel of the same name by Douglas Fairbairn. The production features Cliff Robertson, Ernest Borgnine, Henry Silva and James Blendick.[1]
| Shoot | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Harvey Hart |
| Screenplay by | Dick Berg |
| Based on | the novel Shoot by Douglas Fairbairn |
| Produced by | Benjamin Melniker Harve Sherman |
| Starring | Cliff Robertson Ernest Borgnine |
| Cinematography | Zale Magder |
| Edited by | Peter Shatalow Ron Wisman |
| Music by | Doug Riley |
Production companies | Essex Enterprises Getty Pictures Corp. |
| Distributed by | Avco Embassy Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 99 minutes |
| Countries | Canada United States |
| Language | English |
The film tells of Rex (Cliff Robertson), a gun enthusiast and military veteran who, with his buddies Lou (Ernest Borgnine) and Zeke (Henry Silva), go hunting in the forest.
Plot
editAfter a frustrating day of hunting in Canada that has left a group of combat veterans empty-handed, their hunting party comes to a river. Another band of hunters appears on the other side, and stares them down.
Suddenly a gun goes off, and Zeke retaliates by shooting and killing one of the men on the other riverbank. After an exchange of gunfire, Major Rex and his friends win the skirmish, driving the other group off.
Deciding to keep the incident a secret from the police, they round up a posse of friends and pursue the other hunters through the woods in a bloody mini-war that only Lou questions.
Cast
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Filming location
editReception
editCritical response
editVincent Canby, writing for The New York Times, believes the message of the film was lost. He wrote: "[Shoot] apparently hopes to be making a statement about the mayhem that can be caused by easy access to weaponry, but most of the time the film doesn't believe in itself. When one character says to another, 'I can't believe it really happened', it's as if the film makers were trying to disassociate themselves from the melodramatic nonsense they've concocted."[2]
More recently, AllMovie film critic Donald Guarisco wrote a favorable review, "This Canadian drama is modest but effective stuff. The most interesting aspect of Shoot is its cool, methodical approach: the script presents a story that slowly but surely builds, never going big peaks of drama or action as it builds toward an inevitable showdown ... Harvey Hart keeps things subtle with his direction, wrapping the film in atmospheric visuals and getting low-key performances from his cast. Cliff Robertson is excellent as the quietly mad protagonist, painting a chilling portrait of a man whose dissatisfaction with his post-military life leads to dangerous choices for himself and others in a tense situation ... [as] a result, it is worth a look to fans of offbeat 1970's cinema."[3]
Accolades
editDirector Harvey Hart was nominated for a Golden Charybdis award at the Taormina International Film Festival in Italy in 1977.
See also
edit- Deliverance (1972)
- Southern Comfort (1981)
References
edit- ^ Shoot at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films.
- ^ Canby, Vincent. The New York Times, film review, "Shoot Misses Mark as Film On Gun Usage," January 20, 1977. Access: July 26, 2013.
- ^ Guarisco, Donald. AllMovie by Rovi, film review, 2013. Accessed: July 26, 2013.