A Single Shot

Name: A Single Shot
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: September 20, 2013
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 53
Cast: Jason Isaacs, Jeffrey Wright, Joe Anderson, Kelly Reilly, Melissa Leo

2013

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 16 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	Your Score
6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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A SINGLE SHOT

Movie Details & Credits

Tribeca Film | Release Date: September 20, 2013

Starring: Jason Isaacs, Jeffrey Wright, Joe Anderson, Kelly Reilly, Melissa Leo, Ophelia Lovibond, Sam Rockwell, Ted Levine, William H. Macy

Summary: The tragic death of a beautiful young girl starts a tense and atmospheric game of cat and mouse between hunter John Moon and the hardened backwater criminals out for his blood.

Director: David M. Rosenthal

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 116 min

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Critic Reviews

IndieWire - Eric Kohn

Sep 18, 2013

The suspense comes and goes, but A Single Shot always maintains a firm grip on its sad, deteriorating environment. Read full review

Village Voice - Alan Scherstuhl

Sep 17, 2013

David M. Rosenthal's sturdy, nasty rural noir, based on Matthew F. Jones's novel, is so sharp and rusted through that, after taking it in, you'll likely need a tetanus shot. Read full review

Arizona Republic - Bill Goodykoontz

Sep 19, 2013

A Single Shot never rises to the level of a great film like “Winter’s Bone,” which digs much deeper in its depiction of life in the hills among the desperate poor. But thanks largely to Rockwell, it’s not bad, either. Read full review

NPR - Tomas Hachard

Sep 20, 2013

By the end, Macy's presence is just one part of what makes A Single Shot recall the Coen brothers' "Fargo." That film's now-famous wood-chipper scene can seem strangely tame a decade and a half on, but it still has a lesson to teach: When you show violence in a story that's not really about violence, there'd better be more of a point than just making us squirm. Read full review

Boston Globe - Peter Keough

Sep 19, 2013

In lieu of suspense, Rosenthal relies on a mood of free-floating anxiety, enhanced by West Virginia (actually British Columbia) landscapes where the sun never shines. As one-note as the title suggests, A Single Shot misfires. Read full review

The New York Times - Manohla Dargis

Sep 19, 2013

Mr. Rosenthal puts the story’s parts into play well enough, but once everyone and everything is in position that’s more or less where they stay as this slow story downshifts to a crawl. Read full review

Observer - Rex Reed

Sep 17, 2013

What passes for a plot has been done a thousand times before — in much better films than A Single Shot. Read full review

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User Reviews

RevRon

Dec 30, 2013

I like the mystery of this film, I liked the tone and I loved the cast! However, the film tends to forget its methodical, slow pace towards the end and decides that they did enough character development and decides to wrap things up quickly…whether or not you knew who the responsibleI like the mystery of this film, I liked the tone and I loved the cast! However, the film tends to forget its methodical, slow pace towards the end and decides that they did enough character development and decides to wrap things up quickly…whether or not you knew who the responsible parties were. This movie could have been great if more care was taking into the growth and development of the players (heck, even just making sure the characters are introduced by name would have helped) as it was to make sure the film was dark, grimy and depressing. While not terrible, “A Single Shot” triumphs with great performances and a fantastic tone but fails with its lack of expansion on some important players in the story.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

KangarooKurt

Oct 18, 2013

I really wanted to like it more than I did it has lots of good parts, like the cast and the cinematography, but you keep asking yourself why you'd want to identify with the lead character, and for me, I couldn't come up with an answer. Rockwell's acting is terrific, but his John Moon getsI really wanted to like it more than I did it has lots of good parts, like the cast and the cinematography, but you keep asking yourself why you'd want to identify with the lead character, and for me, I couldn't come up with an answer. Rockwell's acting is terrific, but his John Moon gets fooled all the time, outwitted by idiots, doesn't take hints, makes foolish moves, and just makes it hard to like him, even as an anti-hero.

Compare this to a masterwork like No Country For Old Men, and you'll see that each part pales in comparison by at least a little. No Country may have dark characters, but they're fascinating and their actions are interesting and worthy of contemplating Single Shot is missing this.

All told, however, it's that first minute where you watch John Moon make a bad decision and you never recover your faith in his ability to lead you to a satisfying end.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BrianMcCritic

Sep 20, 2013

This film just does not have enough juice and has a tendency to just crawl along. The film is well made and Sam Rockwell does his best with what he's been given, but unfortunately that's not much. C

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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