Wild Bill (DVD)

...to ever descend onto the wild west. Based on the true story and events of James Butler Hickok, otherwise known as Wild Bill Hickok, played magnificently by Jeff Bridges. The movie Incorporates many of the early events in Hickoks life before his violent demise in Deadwood, south Dakota.

Because of time limitations in the film, The director gets many of Hickoks exploits over in a very clever way. Hickok has a friend, an English dandy ...
...in Saloons etc all about Wild Bill. The Irony is that many time Hickok is actually uncomfortable with this, and he attempts to play down is exploits. The film covers many historic factors such as when hickok was involved in gunfights, instead of clearing the streets, folk would line the streets to see him shoot, {You would make a bundle selling popcorn} The film has a humourous side as well. Hickok is very particular about his hat, and won't abide ... more

I cannot emphasise just how well done this film is. For anybody that enjoys a decent western movie, this is ideal. This film is a biography of one of the greatest gunfighters to ever descend onto the wild west. Based on the true story and events of James Butler Hickok, otherwise known as Wild Bill Hickok, played magnificently by Jeff Bridges. The movie Incorporates many of the early events in Hickoks life before his violent demise in Deadwood, south Dakota.

Because of time limitations in the film, The director gets many of Hickoks exploits over in a very clever way. Hickok has a friend, an English dandy man, called Charley Prince played by John Hurt. Throughout the film Charley is telling stories to people in Saloons etc all about Wild Bill. The Irony is that many time Hickok is actually uncomfortable with this, and he attempts to play down is exploits. The film covers many historic factors such as when hickok was involved in gunfights, instead of clearing the streets, folk would line the streets to see him shoot, {You would make a bundle selling popcorn} The film has a humourous side as well. Hickok is very particular about his hat, and won't abide anybody touching it. Needless to say the easiest way for someone to wind up in a pine box was to do this. A couple of times in the film people fall fowl of this but it is portrayed in a funny way, seeing Hickoks reaction.

The film starts of setting the scene, running through some of the violent events of the early days. The film also accurately shows the time Hickok was Marshal of Dodge City. Whilst in the midst of a volatile situation, one of Hickoks deputies runs up behind him, and as a consequence Hickok fearing attack turns and shoots him dead. After this event he forces all the disgusted spectators of the street. This is so he is not seen cradling his deputy in his arms and weeping. Hickok in his youth tries his handat many things and becomes legendary in fighting Native Americans, Scouting during the American Civil War, and hunting. But he could never escape the fact that his skill with firearms was incredible and what he did best was take lives. He even turned his hand to gambling but sucked at it.

Eventually Hickok arrives in Dodge City and comes face to face again with the woman who loves him almost obsessively, Calamity Jane played by Ellen Barkin. No doubt Jane is a rough woman and very skilled with a firearm. Once Hickok sees Jane she is in the midst of bull whipping a cowboy. It is a realationship of convenience for Hickok, in the past he has had sexual relations with Jane but refuses to reciprocate the feelings of love back on Jane, it is as though he is trying to protect himself, and this infuriates Jane more often than not. The film also shows that Hickoks eyesight is failing him due to Glaucoma, and mentally Hickok is in turmoil because it occurs to him what can i do without my sight.

Worse is yet to come in the form of Jack McCall, Played by David Arquette. Jack is the son of a lady who Hickok was in a relationship with whilst Jack was a young boy. Her name is suzanna, played by Diane Lane, and this was Hickok's real love. It seems though that Jack has a grudge against Hickok for breaking his mothers heart, and additionally because in a gunfight Hickok killed her new boyfriend. Jack constantly antagonises Hickok, yet Hickok shows such maturity by trying to empathise with Jack, and shows much tolerance. In a couple of scenes Hickok tries to befriend him because he does not want to kill him. With many mental issues Hickok is accurately shown in the film as taking opium, to escape his life. In one scene with his eyesight failing and being vulnerable because he is high, Jack comes in and puts a gun to Hickoks face but, Hickok is still too damn good. Jack hears a metallic click of a gun cocking and sees an hideaway pistol pointing straight at his chest. There is laughter as Jack marvels at the tenacity of Hickok, and Jack leaves. But it's not over for he conspires with a prositute, played by Christina Applegate to kill Hickok, and to help him he is going to hire some killers.

This is foiled and the killers die in a hail of bullets, this scene is awesome. Sadly Hickok met his end being shot in the back of the head by Jack McCall whilst Hickok was playing cards. What the film does not tell you is that in his life Hickok always sat with his back to the wall for this reason. This was the one time he sat with his back to the door, and he paid the price. To this day the hand of cards Hickok was holding is actually called Deadmans hand.

My wife loved this movie also not only because it is biographical, but the sensitivity of the film. There is a lot of emotion deep set in the life of a very violent man. Yet for Hickok there is justification for he often declares "Now you all know i never shot a man that didn't deserve it"
There is much humour in parts like when Will Plummer, played by Bruce Dern, is disabled in a wheelchair and challenges Hickok to a gunfight. To make it fair Hickok has himself tied to a chair and carried out to make it fair. This really happened. Also to goad Hickok into a fight he pays a boy to go into the saloon to say Hickok had sex with a horse, to which he replies "Which horse?"

The movie is totally brilliant with an hardy cast, and a true account of "if you live by the gun, you die by the gun". A definite must buy. 

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