SHORT SATURDAY
If life came with someone to narrate, things could get weird. Ironically, a film was produced with Will Ferrell where this very thing occurred. The irony is that Stranger Than Fiction has more than enough moments to laugh at, but it’s not technically a comedy. The Gunfighter however, is. The short racked up numerous awards after its release in 2013 and for good reason. It’s a clever bit of filmmaking, and it’s able to accomplish so much within just a limited amount of time. It only runs for about nine minutes, but as it turns out, it’s more than enough.
The Gunfighter is a short film, the quality is on par with studio films in the production department.
Set in the old west, The Gunfighter doesn’t exactly have a lead. The gunfighter is played by Shawn Parsons so there is an actual character, however pretty much everyone involved shares an equal workload. The gunfighter walks into a saloon for a whisky when the ‘narrator’ begins telling his story. The problem is, everyone can hear him. The narrator begins to guide the plot forward, sharing everyone’s thoughts and intimate secrets that would’ve otherwise never come to light had he not said anything. The more he speaks, the more everyone else gets embarrassed. Soon though, it appears as though the narrator has a goal in mind that is not favorable to anyone in the saloon.
Even though The Gunfighter is a short film, the quality is on par with studio films in the production department. The editing is sharp and director Eric Kissack clearly knew which shots worked for the short from a comedic standpoint. The set was thoroughly built, looking like a scene out of Tombstone and it’s incredibly comprehensive in the details. The acting mainly revolves around the characters responding to every outlandish thing the narrator says. The narrator is actually a familiar face. TV star Nick Offerman graciously offered his services and it sounds as though he had a fun time doing it. His commentary on The Gunfighter is hilariously timed and the reactions the rest of the cast give to him spilling the tea on everyone are priceless. The writing by Kevin Tenglin is the most impressive part. The dialogue is clever, the subject matter is perverse, and the structure ensured that everyone involved was simpatico with one another. The Gunfighter is a well-oiled machine that in nine minutes, makes for a rib-tickling good time sure to make anyone laugh. This is assuming those watching do well with inappropriate humor.
This short film would make an actor happy to have it as part of their show reel. The Gunfighter passes the eye test and there’s no debating the expertise of those involved on the technical end. If anything, this had to have been a blast to be a part of. Something that is so silly and random, well, it’s hard to believe the set would’ve been in any way uptight. Better still, this was made to be seen and for those who watch to enjoy. So go ahead. Give this free short a look on YouTube.
