Bill's Gun Shop (2001) User Reviews

Stereotypes abound in this movie

[fasfan71 · 2/10 · 30 June 2006]

As a responsible gun owner, this movie scares the crap out of me. This movie contains every stereotype i've ever heard regarding guns: The only black people in the movie are gang members. Every gun owner is either an anti-government conspiracy theorist, a redneck gun freak, or someone with low self esteem who buys a gun to feel like a man. There are no references to responsible gun ownership. No rules of gun safety are followed or even mentioned. Even the commentary of crew gun stories abound with anti-gun stories. Lots of stories about how they killed birds and how bad hey felt and how bad guns are.

The underlying theme of this movie seems to be that guns are bad and the only purposes they have are to kill or to make someone feel tougher. There is one quote in one of the commentaries that claims that England has a much lower murder rate than the U.S. because they don't have guns. Which is wrong, and if they'd bothered to do the research they'd have known that. The director admits that one of the purposes of the movie is to call attention to the gun issue. The produce claims that pro-gun people will like the movie because it reinforces their views and that anti-gun people will like the movie because it reinforces THEIR views. One of the actors says he likes the "neutrality" of the movie? Come on.

Even if you take the gun debate out of the movie. It's a B-movie. The characters put too much faith in each other. The bounty hunters are portrayed as vigilanties. The conspiracy theorists seem to have just walked out of a Michael Moore movie (Don't get me started). The actors seemed to be uncomfortable on the set. The low budget is evident in every aspect of the movie.

My recommendation would be to leave this movie on the shelf. Spend your five bucks on something from Disney.

really, really promising story. really, really bad movie

[superfastcarl · 3/10 · 10 November 2006]

If one considers acting merit, production values and directing....this movie is disappointing. Lighting and cinematography remind me of hastily taped soap operas or a teeny-bopper drama series on MTV. Pretty cheesy overall. If one considers that extreme portrayal of the characters in this movie, it's worse than any hyped, unrealistic action movie that portrays unrealistic violence. This movie is the polar opposite of American Gun, which is an extremely well done, even-handed film that shows the gray area around gun issues and the wide spectrum of people associated with guns and how violence and guns affect people's lives--without being judgmental. Instead of an intelligent discussion on gun issues, this film shows every stereotype of gangbangers, wacko cops and gun nuts. An extremely inaccurate portrayal of gun issues. I disagree with another viewer's comments here in IMDb that this movie is not slanted in it's views. Perhaps there is no overt bias, but by being inaccurate or relying on stereotypes, in effect, makes the viewpoint slanted and inaccurate. During one scene, the main character doesn't even perform the federally mandated instant background check required for all firearm purchases in all states. It simply shows him handing over firearms for cash over the counter to gangbangers. This just doesn't happen in a legal setting in this day and age. This movie is a disservice to any intelligent discussion about gun issues. And I'm a lefty liberal saying that! Guns and violence are extremely complex issues that are almost impossible to portray with both accuracy and fairness..however, this film doesn't even make an attempt to explore them with any depth for the sake of it's own contrived plot. Too bad. Sounded like an interesting movie from the plot summary on the back of the DVD cover. Watch Americn Gun instead if you want to get even an inkling of the complexities of gun ownership in America...and make up your own mind.

Anti Gun garbage 0 out of 10

[elkinbow · 1/10 · 14 July 2006]

Waste of time and money. This movie is just more propaganda geared to fear monger people. To scare them into giving up their God given right to protect their own life.

The police will not/can not save you. It is you're responsibility to protect your self. If you are not willing to carry a firearm. Then at least take a self defense class.

I have to ask you this question. If guns kill people do pens misspell words?

Toss this one in the trash and move on.

It is a human right to protect ones own life!!

Commendable debut effort.

[filmstudentalpha · 7/10 · 13 March 2002]

Dean Lincoln Hyers' feature-length directorial debut, "Bill's Gun Shop," is not without its share of weaknesses, like most directors' first films. For instance, those who enjoy open-ended narratives may still find themselves puzzled or unfulfilled by the numerous loose ends left hanging by the end of the film (written by independent legend Rob Nilsson). There are also a few last-minute additions to the cast of characters that are a bit jarring so late in the narrative. However, "Bill's Gun Shop" is a confident, well-made first feature that hints at the promising future of its director, Hyers.

Certainly the film's best qualities can be attributed, in no small part, to the established and respectable (if not quite yet A-list) cast and crew assembled for the project. Veteran character actors such as Tom Bower ("Pollock"), John Ashton ("Beverly Hills Cop"), and Victor Rivers ("The Mask of Zorro") bring powerful performances into the cast of mostly unknowns. Mickey Freeman's high-definition DV cinematography does much to add to the gritty atmosphere of many of the scenes. And Lee Percy ("Boys Don't Cry") lends his editing style to the film (along with first-timer Eric Goldstein), creating an effectively fractured sense of time, which works well in expressing the internal turmoil facing Dillon, the main character.

The overall strong performances and respectable production values of "Bill's Gun Shop" are indicative of Hyers' ability as a director to bring together a highly competent pool of talent and make the most of each person's contributions (even more commendable considering this was an independent production). As was stated earlier, Hyers shows great potential as a filmmaker and is someone to keep an eye on. Here's wishing him much success!

Defies simple categorization

[PencilNeckedGeek · 8/10 · 22 July 2006]

I don't know why there are so many negative votes for this movie. It's an interesting exploration of gun issues without taking a particular side. Maybe because of that, it's upsetting people at one particular end of the political spectrum.

Being a movie fan, I found it terribly easy to identify with Dillon. He's a young man who has grown up fascinated by guns, movies and guns in movies, and now, fresh out of school, he takes his first stab at adulthood by getting close to that which he has studied all his life -- he takes a job at a gun store.

The job exposes him to things and people he's never experienced before: Bounty hunters, sexually aggressive women, NRA-enthusiasts. And as his world expands, his self-understanding becomes increasingly foggy. Finally, when he comes face to face with the threat of real violence, he is left only with his instincts and the gun that his job has required him to carry.

See this movie and be prepared to talk about it with your friends. This one isn't going to get out of your mind any time soon.

I loved only one thing in this film

[searchanddestroy-1 · 24 January 2014]

I expected worse in this film which I read the comment on IMDb. The comments are not so good, admit it. The story about a Young man who works in a gun shop, in a country where folks possess fire arms as easily as they would have a tooth brush.

What fascinated me the most was the Rick character, played by Victor Rivers. I did not know this actor. I was astonished by him and his character. Not a good one, but not a bad one either. He is actually fascinating, brilliant. Ambivalent at the most. I reminds me William Smith as Falconetti, in RICH MAN POOR MAN TV series, thirty ears ago. Although their characters are not the same at all.

In resume, not a bad movie. it deserves to be watched, but in France, I guess many guys wouldn't get it.