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Top 10 Film Gun Fights

By Jameson Brown · December 26, 2013

Previously, my pieces [hopefully] have had a bit more of profoundness to them. But look at this piece, The Top 10 Film Gun Fights, as a fun article that concisely details the most unique gunfights in cinema. Now, there are infinite amounts of gunfight scenes so feel free to add to this list by sounding off in the comments and give your reason why you feel it is unique. Again, this list is not necessarily about the noisiest, bloodiest scenes, but the most creative and intriguing.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5jup1zI7Cg]

10. True Romance (1993)

If you haven’t noticed, this is one of my favorite films that I have no problem being biased towards. It’s a neon-lit, fuel-injected Bonnie And Clyde from the 90’s that features Brad Pitt as the classic stoner, Lloyd – what’s not to love? The final showdown featured below made this list because of its backbone of betrayal that spawns it. This finale could have been completely avoided, but there was no way in hell Tarantino was going to let us down with a wimpy handshake and money exchange. Nope, he gave us betrayal, bloodshed and lots and lots of pillow feathers.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFGDv5jGBDw]

9. Rambo (1982)

I can’t say I’d recommend this movie to the dramatic, highbrow viewer, but I will recommend it to the action fan for this scene alone. Stallone may have lost his writing mojo he had back in his Rocky days, but he has always had a talent with fast-paced editing – both visually and with sound. The biggest thing that stands out here, other than the 200+ body count, is how well the sound is cut. It makes the carnage really transcend to the next level. That, combined with the scene’s noticeable length, makes for a great Rambo throwback experience. And yes, I said “carnage” and “transcend” in the same sentence.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQAmN-KC73c]

8. The Boondock Saints (1999)

This scene hits the nail on the head with choosing unique gunfights. Now, Troy Duffy may rip off Tarantino sometimes, but that does not mean that this sequence isn’t good. Over directed? Big time. But, to me, there is an epic sense of campiness that is embraced here. Unintentional or not, it works. There’s a sense of coolness to the scene’s framing, and cross plotting that you don’t see too often. A well-done scene – I just wish I could say the same for the movie’s entirety.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_z4IuxAqpE]

7. Scarface (1983)

A classic that we can probably all agree on that it should be on every movie gunfight list written. This cocaine-drenched gun battle between Tony Montana and Sosa’s empire succeeds due to it hard pounding relentlessness and its thematic backbone of “Tony vs. The World.” Not much else to say here other than good acting combined with a dark, determined character and the ever-shifting world of cocaine distribution will most definitely end in a hail of gunfire.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WK6AVqUXYg]

6. Taxi Driver (1976)

Surpassingly, I consider this the dark horse of this list. Why? Because Taxi Driver has never been viewed as a film with a noticeable “gunfight.” When we hear “gunfight” we tend to think “action” and “explosions.” Here, Scorsese shows us a film gunfight can be successful when it capitalizes on grittiness. In this entire scene, Travis knows exactly what he is doing, but we can still tell there might be a sense of hesitation about his actions – showing us that his transformation was genuinely a bad mixture of his mental state and the environment around him, not pure evil. Also, this, aside from Bringing Out The Dead, is Scorsese’s best work in terms of production design, cinematography and overall direction.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uFarFM9sow]

5. Open Range (2003)

One of the best western gunfights put onscreen (yes, over The Wild Bunch), and done so with an acute sense of meticulousness. Costner nails it here by giving us a lengthy western duel that injects realism into its finale – guns run out of bullets quickly, guns jam, people miss from far away distances, etc. Alongside the realism of this gun battle, is the theme of right vs. wrong, one we can’t get enough of, right? Spearman comes to Waite’s aid and rescues him from confusing why they are in the situation they are in and that it should not be based around vengeance, but morality and self-defense.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzHlLJyH2q8]

4. The Matrix (1999)

One word: cinematography. The Wachowskis birthed new ways to shoot a gun sequence with The Matrix. A lot of credit goes to the stunt coordinator here, as this scene would not be what it is without the highly unique style of action.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qakWAS8ixtU]

3. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966)

Now, why did this not take the number one slot? Albeit one of the most memorable standoffs ever to be filmed, and it can be seen as the backbone of Tarantino’s film career, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly infuses a classic score with some of the best faces in one scene…ever. Never has a climax been so built up. This Mexican standoff wins because of the nervousness it creates for the viewer before the guns go off.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrioYLx-7Cs]

2. Heat (1995)

As this almost stole the number one spot, Heat clocks in at number two due to its constant movement throughout the entire scene. What else does this scene have that makes it one of the most creative ones out there? Oh yeah, the guns used are as real as it gets with no sound cropping whatsoever. Notice that earth shattering loud pop with each click of the AK triggers? Yes, that sound has not been tampered with at all. Small bits like this are what make up beautiful scenes like this one. So much so that Christopher Nolan modeled the opening scene of The Dark Knight after this exact scene. Not only this, but also this scene was so well done that it has been used as a training video for U.S. Marines on how to properly retreat during a shootout and the time in which to reload an automatic weapon’s clip.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emeGfvVJaBY]

1. Cop Land (1997)

Once you pick your jaw up off the ground, feel free to read why this was my number one pick. Cop Land takes this spot because of its masterful character perspective throughout the entire shootout. Freddy is on his last leg, and his bad ear is completely gone. We see and hear what he has to go through during this entire standoff. He has one last thing to do before he “dies” and that is standup for what is right, no matter whose toes he is stepping on. Again, there is a great sense of reality here, as guns jam and characters are killed with one shot, not ten. If you have ever fired a pump-action shotgun, you can attest with me on how much harder it is than it seems to pump. And a lot of the times, it will stick. Along with the return of Figgis, who saves Freddy’s life, the final line of “I can’t hear you, Ray” makes this entire scene and film. Freddy has finally stood up for himself, the people he loves and his community. He had to defend it with bloodshed, but it will now be a town that he owns and protects.