• Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket

Movie Review – Son of a Gun (2014)

February 1, 2015 by Gary Collinson

Son of a Gun, 2014.

Directed by Julius Avery.
Starring Ewan McGregor, Brenton Thwaites, Alicia Vikander, Jacek Koman, Matt Nable, Tom Budge and Nash Edgerton.

SYNOPSIS:

JR busts out of prison with Brendan Lynch, Australia’s most notorious criminal, and joins Lynch’s gang for a gold heist that soon pits the two men against one another.

The output from Australian cinema has reached its most productive and successful level for a few years. New filmmakers, actors and production companies are thriving in amongst the big hitters of Hollywood, and some hugely gifted talent has been imported into the minds of the UK public. David Michod, James Wan, Joel Edgerton and Mia Wasikowska are just a few examples of the talented individuals who have Hollywood salivating. Next in line is debutant writer/director Julius Avery, who brings his first film, Son of a Gun, to the UK.

It’s a Scot, however, who headlines Avery’s Australian-set crime thriller, in the form of Obi-Wan Kenobi Ewan McGregor, who takes on a much darker role here, which if nothing else reminds us of what a damn fine talent he is. He stars as Brendan, a life-long criminal set for twenty years in a federal prison, but who was plotting his escape as soon as he walked in. He soon meets newest inmate JR (Brenton Thwaites) and takes him under his wing in a bid to utilise his naivety to escape, and soon enough the two of them are back in the Australian underworld, working for a local kingpin to snatch gold from a local refinery. That is, before JR gets wise to his act, and the two soon come to blows that will undoubtedly lead only one way.

And that, sadly, is the problem with Son of a Gun: you know almost immediately where the story is headed, and it’s nowhere that any other thriller has headed before. Avery certainly keeps things at a brisk place and handles the action set-pieces with some neat flashes – in particular the excellent car-chase shoot-out sequence around the hour mark – that show plenty of promise, but the story surrounding then has nowhere enough thrills to keep your interest as it thunders towards it’s inevitable conclusion.

The script tries hard to keep it’s early chess metaphor prominent throughout, as McGregor’s king tries to stay ahead of Thwaites’ remaining pawn from thinking it’s a bishop or a king, but rather than playing out as the slow, tactile battle of wits is overlooked in favour of a more thunderous, plodding game that has about as much strategic thoughts than a game of Blockbusters, but nowhere near as fun.

That said, the film is wonderful to look at, with cinematographer Nigel Buck (Lord of the Rings) beautifully capturing the harsh terrains and heat of the outback. You can almost feel the sweaty, grimy heat of the outback beneath your toes and fingers and on your own brow as we move from barren desert lands, dusty refineries and palatial king-pin palaces.

Performances too are a mixed bag, but it’s McGregor who shines and keeps the film at least mildly entertaining, and is his best performance in a while. A far more foul-mothered, Angry, and volatile character than he has played in recent years. With his thick red beard, he revels in the short-fused anger the character allows him, rather than having to worry about lightsabers or belting-out love ballads.

Thwaites continues to impress as McGregor’s new protege, and with this and the impressive, soon-to-be-released sci-fi tale The Signal, has certainly earned his place as one of the most exciting and capable young actors working today. Sadly, it’s Vikander, superb in Alex Garland’s Ex_Machina, who gets the short shrift here. As Tasha, the stripper/waitress with a heart of gold role who catches Thwaites’ affections, Vikander is given nothing close to the complexity of Machina, and is sadly never used as anything but token eye-candy.

For all its technical ability, sumptuous visuals and rewarding performances, it’s a shame that Son of a Gun is predictable, ponderous thriller. There is nothing new to be discovered here, with the film following many conventions that wouldn’t be out of place in any Antoine Fuqua effort. McGregor saves the day with a ferocious performance, but doesn’t save the film from the realms of distinctly average.

Flickering Myth Rating – Film ★ ★/ Movie ★ ★

Scott Davis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqtW2LRPtQY&list=PL18yMRIfoszFJHnpNzqHh6gswQ0Srpi5E&x-yt-cl=85114404&x-yt-ts=1422579428&feature=player_embedded

Filed Under: Movies, Reviews, Scott Davis Tagged With: Alicia Vikander, Brenton Thwaites, Ewan McGregor, Jacek Koman., Julius Avery, Matt Nable, Nash Edgerton, Son of a Gun, Tom Budge

About Gary Collinson

Gary Collinson is a film, TV and digital content producer and writer, who is the founder of the pop culture website Flickering Myth and producer of the gothic horror feature film 'The Baby in the Basket' and the upcoming suspense thriller 'Death Among the Pines'.

FMTV – Watch Our Latest Video Here

WATCH OUR MOVIE NOW FOR FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Johnnie To, Hong Kong Cinema’s Modern Master

The Return of Cameron Diaz: Her Best Movies Worth Revisiting

Classic Retro Video Games Based on 80s UK TV Game Shows

An Exploration of Bro Camp: The Best of Campy Guy Movies

10 Badass Action Movies You Might Have Missed

Great 90s Neo-Noir Movies You Might Have Missed

10 Great Forgotten Movie Gems Worth Seeking Out

The 1990s in Comic Book Movies

Ten Action Sequels The World Needs To See

The Most Overlooked Horror Movies of the 1990s

Top Stories:

Great Tarantino-esque Movies You Need To See

Street Fighter casts David Dastmalchian as M. Bison and Cody Rhodes as Guile

Whatever Happened to the Horror Icon?

The Rise of Paul Thomas Anderson: A Living Legend

Movie Review – Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)

Movie Review – The Shrouds (2025)

Comic Book Preview – Marvel Swimsuit Special: Friends, Foes & Rivals

Back to the Future at 40: The Story Behind the Pop Culture Touchstone

STREAM FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

FEATURED POSTS:

10 Essential DC Movies

From Hated to Loved: Did These Movies Deserve Reappraisal?

The Must-See Movies of 2015

The Essential Action Movies of 1985

Our Partners

  • Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

© Flickering Myth Limited. All rights reserved. The reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of the content without permission is strictly prohibited. Movie titles, images, etc. are registered trademarks / copyright their respective rights holders. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you can read this, you don't need glasses.


 

Flickering MythLogo Header Menu
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket