Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

I couldn't finish this. Watching Coburn playing a Vermont millworker with his expensive pouffy hairdo and immaculate fresh-out-of-the-box work clothes was hard enough. He wasn't that great of an actor in the best of settings: this movie is too earnest and dullwitted to help him along. The scene where Virginia Masden dies was the breaking point: so badly handled I felt timewarped back to a 1980's made-for-TV special.The film was mawkish and dumb from the git-go: a problem with a lot of 'independent' cinema that no one seems willing to face up to and tackle. If you liked this movie, check out "Lustre". You'll love it.Just because a movie is set in Vermont and deals with moving issues doesn't make it any good. Sheesh.

Coburn makes a graceful exit from the cinema in this thoughtful contemplation on the issue of gun control. He plays a rural father and grandfather whose semi-estranged daughter (Madsen) is shot to death right before Christmas. Wracked with grief and guilt, he sets out on a journey to trace the gun that killed her, ending up with it's last owner. Meanwhile, his wife Bain copes in her own way and his teenage granddaughter Holden flirts with disaster out on her own. The story is told in a way that flashes back to Coburn's own history with guns as a youth and that conceals certain details of the events in order to startle the viewer near the end. Coburn, who is visibly struggling with the pain of arthritis, is solid throughout. He is able to avoid the type of tacky swan song that so many stars wind up in during their autumn years (though he did do quite a few pieces of garbage during the middle of his career like "Looker" and the TV mini-series "Valley of the Dolls", to name only two!) It's refreshing to see him paired with an actress so close to his own age as his wife when, so often, male stars have spouses or girlfriends anywhere from 10 to 30 years younger than them. Bain, who is done no favors by the lighting here, gives a strong performance as well and is believable as his character's wife. Madsen does a fine job as the somewhat troubled daughter. This was done before her attention-getting work in "Sideways" and the film might have garnered a bit more attention had it been released after that. Holden is good in her role, though it's a bit difficult to swallow her transformation in character and appearance. The film isn't particularly believable at all times and is contrived and even pat, but it musters up enough interest and irony (and avoids being too preachy on it's subject) to remain entertaining.

i think this is one of the best films i've seen in ages, with one huge twist that makes you go "my gosh i didn't see that coming". all actors were fantastic and portrayed their troubled characters well. a very good job at casting. the director did a fantastic job. and i'm very pleased with the film i saw, i think maybe some of the film could have been better explained but i think we should leave it as it is. as a great unknown classic, not known by the world, enjoy this film if you see it, not many people know its out there. i'll leave it at that but do try and watch it is good

JAMES COBURN bowed out like true star in AMERICAN GUN, a strange, yet rewarding cross between ON GOLDEN POND and THE LIMEY (with shades of THE CROSSING GUARD). And for once (oh well, maybe twice) COBURN does not come accross all smooth, cool and calm. He is very human, and is capable of making mistakes (one rather big one, it turns out!) and the director only gives you as many clues as he wants, so that when the events playback in sequence (and only in that order) does the viewer, fully understand the whole story. The final shot of COBURN, all bitter and twisted, yet slightly redeemed, is rather haunting COBURN asside, every performance in this movie is spot-on. The ever gorgeous VIRGINIA MADSEN especially effective, in the few scenes she's in. Once again, i cannot praise this fine movie, but it must be watched till the end (and in one sitting) to be truly appreciated. Oh well, JAMES COBURN, your 'star' will continue to shine on in heaven. But back here on earth, you shone also. You left the world, a better place than when you first found it.10 out of 10