Gun Shy
by Sasha Stone

The first few minutes of Gun Shy appear to have been afflicted with Tarantino-itus, a virus rumored to have been knocked out in the mid 90s. But apparently, it takes a licking and keeps on ticking. There are Tarantino eruptions all over the indie scene, some successful, some mere blips. Unfortunately, many young artists have developed a resistance to the known antibiotic, good sense, and continue to develop infections, which can render a film useless.

The symptoms are obvious to the naked eye: gangsters expounding poetic verse with intermittent profanity, random violence, a biblical reference or two, lots of blood, and in the end there's nothing to learn about the world except that nothing means anything.

Writer and first time director, Eric Blakeney has brought a new film into the doctor's office for a diagnosis. After careful observation, the results are in. This film isn't infected with the dreaded virus. It's not even sick. Surprisingly, it is the picture of health.

Undercover Fed Charlie Mayough (Liam Neeson) finds himself gun shy after a sting operation went wrong, leaving his partner dead, and his face buried in watermelon as he lay naked on a table (never mind the details) just minutes from being shot. Miraculously, he manages to survive the scene, but he becomes so riddled with fear that he contemplates running from his next gig. Alas, he cannot.

Charlie meets a shrink on an airplane who begins asking him questions, which lead to real therapy sessions, which lead to group therapy. Because Charlie can't control his bowel movements (his non-stop diarrhea is one of the reasons he seeks psychiatric counseling), his shrink sends him to a lovely nurse for a barium enema. Enter Sandra Bullock.

Nurse Judy takes Charlie through a painful colonic experience that is almost as hard to watch as a random act of violence. Be warned: scatology emerges throughout the film. Why? Well, that's artistic license for you. Naturally, Nurse Judy takes to Charlie, partly because he looks like Liam Neeson and partly because "everyone likes Charlie."

Why any woman would decide to give a man a ride home and seduce him after having plunged his colon with barium is a mystery, but nonetheless, Charlie's a lucky guy, as the film states repeatedly. Naturally, Judy would fall into his lap in an unexpected way.

Judy also believes that the colon is doing back flips because Charlie's afraid. Why is he afraid? At the film's outset, he's trying to avoid working on a sting operation around a well known "bad guy" named Fluvio Nesstra (marvelous Oliver Platt). He becomes consumed with terror at the thought of even having to look at Fluvio, a man known for chopping off the limbs of his neighbors if they steal his newspaper.

With the help of pharmaceuticals and Judy's loving care, Charlie conquers his fear of Nesstra and begins to understand him. This is where the film turns from being a viral infection of the Tarantino kind to vibrantly healthy story telling.

Not exactly the world's most charismatic performer, Liam Neeson seems at first out of place in the movie - far too elegant, far too tall, far too European, more suited to playing roles like Oskar Schindler, which doesn't help build a case for Charlie being a man everyone likes. However, Neeson gets a handle on Charlie, and before you know it you've bought him hook, line and sinker.

Sandra Bullock acts as producer, as well as executive producer for the soundtrack, so her stake in the film is obviously high, hence her willingness to use whatever star power she has to not only get the film made, but lend her face to its poster, do press, dress up all pretty in her role as Judy, and basically sell her persona for the sake of art.

It's nice to see an actress who loved a script for its good writing rather than how it might stretch her range as an actress, not that there's anything wrong with that. Lots of actresses are producing projects these days, which has injected the industry with more quality works. Women have begun utilizing that extraordinary power they have over their audience. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. This time it worked.

Blakeney starts the film on a somewhat absurd note, taking a while to get to the point, or rather, to signal the audience about what kind of film they are about to see. It may not survive a TV viewing with a tempting remote within reach. It's probably a good thing that Bullock doesn't show up until the second reel - the promise of her appearance might make people watch longer. However, once the story cracks its knuckles and gets down to business it proves itself to be fresh and original, despite the occasional viral eruption (Mexican standoff, dick and balls jokes, etc.).

Blakeney is an idea man with very deep thoughts on the meaning of life, what we make of our time on earth, what consumes our daily struggle, and mostly, what make life worth living. When we go along for the ride, we call into question our own fears and values. Gun Shy is about taking time to smell the roses and to realize that every day we survive is a reason to celebrate. Even a barium enema can have its upside.