Synopsis
Die in a Gunfight is a romantic action drama film released in 2021 directed by Collin Schiffli and having its screenplay written by Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari. The movie is a modern interpretation of Romeo and Juliet. The film explores the concept of young love trapped in the chaos of family disputes, as well as in the realms of aspiration and rebellion. It is a tale about two people in love who, in the course of achieving personal goals, struggle with an external environment that is persistently and aggressively trying to tear them to pieces.
The movie takes the perspective of Ben Gibbon, a young and wild character played by Diego Boneta, who hails from a wealthy and influential lineage. Ben is constantly surrounded by limousines and the shallow world of the rich. He is an individual in search of a purpose and surrounded by meaningless voids. He can be classified as a purposefully lost individual who dabbles in clashes, problematic situations, and incalculable endeavors in an attempt to grasp authenticity. It is incorrect to label him a villain. Instead, he is a reflective persona who tries to seek the truth in contested and superficial battles that rage around him.
His life takes a different turn once again with the reintroduction of Mary Rathcart, played by Alexandra Daddario. Mary is the daughter of the Rathcart family, who have been the rivals of the Gibbons family for an extended period of time. Business interests, pride, and unaddressed history have caused the families to get locked in a bitter feud. However, Mary and Ben once possessed a strong bond during their childhood, which life events subsequently tore apart. After a number of years the bond is rekindled and it is as though nothing has changed.
Mary is more than just a romantic interest. She is a vivid, strong-willed individual with ambition who grapples with the family and societal impositions of gender. Like Ben, she is in the process of self actualization. Even with the animosity that exists between their families, Ben and Mary fall in love again and start to fantasize about a life free from the oppressive societal norms that surround them.
While the two lovers try to re-establish their connection, they become entangled in a complex tangle of surfaced secrets, manipulation, and plotting. The Rathcart family has plans in store for Mary that she is unwilling to comply with, and Ben’s reckless behavior threatens to sabotage their efforts at freedom. The entire time, surrounded by the boiling tension is Terrence Uberahl, played by Justin Chatwin, an ex bodyguard and an ambitious outsider with increasingly puzzling loyalty and motivations. Unlike the other characters, Terrence’s siege is one of the few sunny spots in the otherwise dynamic narrative. He diverts the eyes to a certain extent and permits the audience to read an otherwise jumbled narrative.
Most of the time, the narrative focuses falsely on Mary’s life, but Mary’s focus is hardly on the rest of the family at all. Protective in the past, Terrence is now vengeful. He becomes a refraction and a negative image to Ben in the sense that, he too has gone through his fair share of rejection, but his approach to the rejection is different. Protective figures like him become guardians to the two warring families and he becomes a catalyst to trigger the amplifying discord.
The narrative is not devoid of soul-searching episodes, inner conflicts, and sudden and life-shattering realizations that deal with the intertwining threads of family, love, and social shackles. Mary and Ben are not the passive characters that are only bound by love but are walking the thin boundary of life and death.
Alongside the external conflict, the film engages with the internal battles of prioritization, of determining whether to adhere to the blueprint handing to you, or to take the gamble of chasing your aspirations. Ultimately, Die in a Gunfight is not so much about any form of confrontation, as it is about the bravery to love, and live, in a world that makes such an existence something of an oddity.
Cast & Crew
Diego Boneta captures the essence of the protagonist, Ben Gibbons whose life is engulfed with uncertainty, turmoil and the overwhelming need to possess something of value. Boneta’s portrayal of Ben is both powerful and earnest as he shows the worrying and the idealistic sides of love and transformation.
Mary Rathcart, who is portrayed by Alexandra Daddario, is a young woman who finds herself perplexed with the dynamics of being subordinate and self-governed. Daddario enhances Mary’s character by making her smart, warm-hearted, and fiercely willing to get rid of the chains of social norms. The chemistry with Boneta gives the film its emotional core.
Justin Chatwin as Terrence Uberahl, an intriguing and multi-dimensional character who enhances the level of complexity and tension in the narrative. His performance enhances unpredictability to the film, as the true motives of Terrence are only revealed during vital scenes.
Wade Allain-Marcus plays Mukul, whom Ben considers his best friend, and who offers him a much needed stabilizing balance. He gives sage advice and is fiercely loyal to Ben, often acting as a rational voice when Ben is overcome with emotions or in a quandary.
Travis Fimmel plays Wayne McCarthy, a shadowy character who adds further intricacy to the rivalry between the families. He heightens the sensation of a world brimming with muted conflict and potent antagonists.
Schiffli Collin has a unique touch in directing the movie, combining stylized cinematography with emotional storytelling to create his signature visual style. An indie film maker, Schiffli infuses each shot with individualism and charm. His use of rapid cuts, vivid colors, and animated pictures lends the film a graphic novel quality that compliments the characters’ emotional turmoil and the rest of the movie.
The writers of the movie, Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari, successfully blended drama, romance, and satire. Their dialogue, which is often poetic, is sharply crafted, which indicates the characters’ internal battles. They manage to find a balance between tradition and innovation by drawing inspiration from classic literature and combining it with a bold modern touch.
Ian Hultquist’s score complements the film’s varied emotional tones, from contemplation to extreme intensity, skillfully preserving the underlying stylishness and emotional depth of the film.
IMDb Ratings
Die in a Gunfight currently holds a score of 4.3/10 on IMDb. This Die in a Gunfight result is indicative of the Die in a Gunfight audience and critics reception being mixed to negative. Part of the audience praised the film’s bold style, unique visual and emotional designs. Stilistic, creative, and emotional depth in a plot was a conjunction of which some critics did not find pleasure in.
Nonetheless, contemporary audiences were drawn to the film’s depiction of love against the odds, and Diego Boneta and Alexandra Daddario’s performances were frequently touted, particularly for their chemistry and ability to play emotionally complex roles.
Die in a Gunfight audience reception even in spite of the bold visual appeal suggests the film did not miss the target even with the critics. While some film critics found the films boldness poetically styled and an entire audience retrograde of the romance thematics, melding genres for some critics destructed the narrative clarity.
Concluding Remarks
Die In A Gunfight is a contemporary love story entwined with the themes of identity and love. Love and freedom come with a price, and the liberty to love and be oneself is often unfulfilled. Despite the shortcomings of the film, its essence captured the audacity to challenge the norms and curtailment, and advocate love in its place.
It is neither of the two romantic, and one manages to wrest a counter to monotony. Even among the clutter, criticism, and expectations rife in today’s society, a pair can encounter one another and construct something pure and genuine, which is the enduring unity of love and freedom.
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