The Shootist

The legendary John Wayne gives a fantastic understated performance as J.B. Books an aging gunfighter suffering from stomach cancer and looking to live out the final days of his life in peace. Of course, the entire existence of the gunfighter is predicated on the inevitability that once you reach top there is always going to be someone looking to knock you off your pedestal. Here that means J.B.'s retirement won't be so peaceful. Besides this plot point, there is the mature twilight romance between J.B. and Bond (Lauren Bacall) and his mentor relationship with Gillom (Ron Howard). James Stewart (who co-starred with Wayne in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) puts in a cameo as J.B.'s physician. Recommended.

This movie reminds me of Ted Williams. On Williams' last at bat as a ballplayer, he hit a home run--what a great way to go out on top! This movie is John Wayne's version of this same event. In his final movie before succumbing to cancer, he created one of his best and deepest movies. Gone is the 100% predictable and bullet-proof cowboy of yesterday. Instead, we see Wayne as an old gunslinger who is dying from cancer (ironic, huh?!). But, he doesn't just kick butt and act the macho role, but instead is more thoughtful and in search of leaving a positive legacy with young Ron Howard. Overall, the movie is intelligent, beautiful and satisfying. It kind of gets you feeling rather misty-eyed, doesn't it?!