Review of Shoot Out

I caught this on the Starz Western network and stopped it half way in thinking my wife would enjoy watching this western, which she really did. It stands out as having an A list star in Peck in a film that seems to be breaking barriers for 1971 as far as female character portrayal in the Old West as well as their illegitimate children. The film has a lot of detailed characters in it, not just for the two male leads but also for those associating with them such as the prostitute women in their lives and a young female child. If you don't like extended young children in films you will not enjoy this film, but I was heartbroken by her tale of hard life and being virtually abandoned to her own devices at age 6. The "they killed my cat" line really tugged at me; she clearly was an abused kid. Likewise, Susan Tyrrell young kidnapped and abused prostitute has equally had an awful life. These two female characters make this film for me (and my wife) above the norm. I thought Tyrell would eventually join with Peck's character and adopt the girl but that is where the film strays and the only part I didn't like because she is treated like dirt not only by the bad guys but also by the screen writers. I guess her character was too tainted to be redeemed? After watching Tyrell, I was interested in seeing er other films and see that she was in more films of a hard life character in films, even by notorious director John Waters. Reading her bio, I think all of these outrageous roles she was in, especially in her youth made her an unhappy person in real life, which is sad. That said, I really enjoyed her role in Shootout. When considering this film, I take into account how interested my wife was, probably more so then most Westerns we have watched together. The bad guy Bobby Ray is wicked through and through and my wife relished his ending. With that in mind it may be best to watch this with your girlfriend, spouse or significant other. It's not a masterpiece (didn't that one town have a sheriff?) but because of its detailed character development I enjoyed Shootout as a great Western to watch with a date. 7 out of 10.