Intro"Six Shooter" is a captivating 2004 Irish/UK brief movie that won an Academy Award for Finest Live Action Short Film. It was written and directed by the prominent playwright Martin McDonagh, a master storyteller who has a propensity for combining black comedy and brutal violence.
Plot SummaryThe film takes place in the grim consequences of an individual catastrophe. Its protagonist, Donnelly is just starting to fathom his better half's death when he experiences an unusual, disrespectful boy while travelling house on a late night train. This young man, known as 'the kid', sometimes is repulsive and disturbing; sometimes he appears to be simply a harmless chatterbox. Nevertheless, as events unfold, it becomes apparent that 'the kid' is extremely unsteady and possibly hazardous.
Main Characters and DialogueDonnelly, played by Brendan Gleeson, is a typically mourning, quiet character who is struggling to make sense of his partner's unexpected death. On the other hand, 'the kid' (Rúaidhrí Conroy) is a chatterbox with a clearly disturbing sense of humour. McDonagh's ability as a playwright is plainly shown through the sharp, intense dialogue exchanged by the characters. Their discussion strongly shows their clashing personalities and contrasts their various coping mechanisms in the face of disaster.
Action and Violence'Six Shooter' constructs slowly, intensifying from the preliminary pain in Donnelly's interactions with 'the kid' to a shocking climax of graphic violence. The train journey takes a nightmarish turn when it is revealed that 'the kid' had killed his mother, mirroring Donnelly's own loss. The high degree of violence in the movie, though stunning, also serves to stress the deep pain present on both sides: in both the seemingly quiet old male and the flamboyant young man are manifestations of awful suffering.
EndingThe conclusion of 'Six Shooter' is packed with existential concerns and moral problems. It culminates with 'the kid', now exposed as a murderer, taking his life. Donnelly, who had invested the journey struggling to comprehend this young man, is now left alone with his grief and the horrific events of the train journey. The final scene shows how McDonagh likes to leave his audience pondering with ambiguous endings, leaving Donnelly on a beach firing a six shooter into the sea.
Conclusion'Six Shooter' is an extreme dark funny that synergises traditional aspects of Irish storytelling with a modern understanding of agony and grief. Its success depends on McDonagh's ability to efficiently blend heartbreaking human suffering with a surreal and violent story, developing a plot that, while disturbing, is engaging throughout. McDonagh's ability as a writer shines in each line of the film's dialogue, painting a haunting photo of human misery; a theme that is echoed in the sharply contrasting characters of Donnelly and 'the kid'. The movie is a testimony to McDonagh's talent as a filmmaker and is a powerful addition to his repertoire.
Top Cast
