A box office hit when it was released in '88, in a case that audiences did not follow the bad reviews, "Young Guns" is an action packed western with a modernist touch, written and produced by John Fusco ("Crossroads", "Thunderheart", "Hidalgo") and directed by Christopher Cain ("The Principal", "The Stone Boy"), two interesting filmmakers, and featuting a cast of some of the best young adults performing in the 80's.
Set in the years that led up to the Lincoln County War, which took place in New Mexico during 1877-78, the screenplay makes some good use of historical figures such as Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, John Tunstall or Lawrence Murphy and real situations that occurred mixed up with fiction to fit the cinematic value of this screen adaptation.
Gritty, witty and mean, well structured and staged, especially on the action scenes, this movie is way more than 'Brat Packers with cowboy boots' that the 'professional film critics' spreaded in their nasty reviews. First of all the only 'Brat Packer' in the cast is Emilio Estevez, and "Young Guns" resembles more a "The Outsiders" ('83) set in the Old West than "The Breakfast Club" ('85) or "St. Elmo's Fire" ('85), curiously, all starred by Emilio.
Some good camerawork by Dean Semler; a catchy western tune by conductor Anthony Marinelli and competently made art design and wardrobe enhanced a way interesting film that helped the western comeback in late 80's, after a decade that only "Silverado" and "Pale Rider" (both '85) were considerable hits. The sometimes dark and cynical tone of this film were ahead of its time and became more popular in the 90's.
Last, but surely not the least, its tremendous cast led by Emilio Estevez, joining Christopher Cain again after they both worked in S.E. Hinton's "That Was Then... This Is Now" ('85), playing the ruthless Billy the Kid with his characteristical charismatic laugh in one of his more remarkable roles; Kiefer Sutherland as "Doc" Scurlock, the soft spoken poet turned gunfighter; Charlie Sheen, who was a big and demanding star when this movie went into production after "Platoon" ('86) and "Wall Street" ('87), but filmed his short role of "Dick" Brewer to give star power to a movie starred by his older brother, Emilio, and Lou Diamond Phillips, Dermot Mulroney and Casey Siemaszko, respectively, Jose Chavez y Chavez, "Dirty Steve" Stephens and Charlie Bowdre who were outstanding fleshing out their characters. Lou have an incredible scene talking about the fate of his tribe; Dermot is a riot as a dumb hillbilly with an attitude problem and Casey is just perfect in his naiveness and brute force at the same time.
The supporting cast is consisted of such veteran screen legends as Brian Keith ("Deadly Companions", "Nevada Smith"); Patrick Wayne, the eldest son of The Duke, playing Pat Garrett and Jack Palance in the villanous role of Murphy which shades his Oscar nominated performance in "Shane". Classic actor Terence Stamp leaves a mark as the englishman John Tunstall, always a masterclass in acting, and character actor Terry O'Quinn delivers the goods as the honest lawyer, Alexander McSween.
Blink an eye and you'll miss a cameo by Tom Cruise, disguised with a moustache in a non-speaking part. He's at the siege near the end when Casey Siemaszko is leaving the house. Cruise did this cameo just for the fun ot it, when visiting his best friend Emilio on the set. Years later, Emilio would appear in "Mission Impossible" ('96) in a non-billed extended cameo as the ill-fated Jack Harmon, one of I.M.F.
I give it a 8.5
Way better than what the critics said, recommended !!
Set in the years that led up to the Lincoln County War, which took place in New Mexico during 1877-78, the screenplay makes some good use of historical figures such as Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, John Tunstall or Lawrence Murphy and real situations that occurred mixed up with fiction to fit the cinematic value of this screen adaptation.
Gritty, witty and mean, well structured and staged, especially on the action scenes, this movie is way more than 'Brat Packers with cowboy boots' that the 'professional film critics' spreaded in their nasty reviews. First of all the only 'Brat Packer' in the cast is Emilio Estevez, and "Young Guns" resembles more a "The Outsiders" ('83) set in the Old West than "The Breakfast Club" ('85) or "St. Elmo's Fire" ('85), curiously, all starred by Emilio.
Some good camerawork by Dean Semler; a catchy western tune by conductor Anthony Marinelli and competently made art design and wardrobe enhanced a way interesting film that helped the western comeback in late 80's, after a decade that only "Silverado" and "Pale Rider" (both '85) were considerable hits. The sometimes dark and cynical tone of this film were ahead of its time and became more popular in the 90's.
Last, but surely not the least, its tremendous cast led by Emilio Estevez, joining Christopher Cain again after they both worked in S.E. Hinton's "That Was Then... This Is Now" ('85), playing the ruthless Billy the Kid with his characteristical charismatic laugh in one of his more remarkable roles; Kiefer Sutherland as "Doc" Scurlock, the soft spoken poet turned gunfighter; Charlie Sheen, who was a big and demanding star when this movie went into production after "Platoon" ('86) and "Wall Street" ('87), but filmed his short role of "Dick" Brewer to give star power to a movie starred by his older brother, Emilio, and Lou Diamond Phillips, Dermot Mulroney and Casey Siemaszko, respectively, Jose Chavez y Chavez, "Dirty Steve" Stephens and Charlie Bowdre who were outstanding fleshing out their characters. Lou have an incredible scene talking about the fate of his tribe; Dermot is a riot as a dumb hillbilly with an attitude problem and Casey is just perfect in his naiveness and brute force at the same time.
The supporting cast is consisted of such veteran screen legends as Brian Keith ("Deadly Companions", "Nevada Smith"); Patrick Wayne, the eldest son of The Duke, playing Pat Garrett and Jack Palance in the villanous role of Murphy which shades his Oscar nominated performance in "Shane". Classic actor Terence Stamp leaves a mark as the englishman John Tunstall, always a masterclass in acting, and character actor Terry O'Quinn delivers the goods as the honest lawyer, Alexander McSween.
Blink an eye and you'll miss a cameo by Tom Cruise, disguised with a moustache in a non-speaking part. He's at the siege near the end when Casey Siemaszko is leaving the house. Cruise did this cameo just for the fun ot it, when visiting his best friend Emilio on the set. Years later, Emilio would appear in "Mission Impossible" ('96) in a non-billed extended cameo as the ill-fated Jack Harmon, one of I.M.F.
I give it a 8.5
Way better than what the critics said, recommended !!