Dean Lincoln Hyers' feature-length directorial debut, "Bill's Gun Shop," is not without its share of weaknesses, like most directors' first films. For instance, those who enjoy open-ended narratives may still find themselves puzzled or unfulfilled by the numerous loose ends left hanging by the end of the film (written by independent legend Rob Nilsson). There are also a few last-minute additions to the cast of characters that are a bit jarring so late in the narrative. However, "Bill's Gun Shop" is a confident, well-made first feature that hints at the promising future of its director, Hyers.
Certainly the film's best qualities can be attributed, in no small part, to the established and respectable (if not quite yet A-list) cast and crew assembled for the project. Veteran character actors such as Tom Bower ("Pollock"), John Ashton ("Beverly Hills Cop"), and Victor Rivers ("The Mask of Zorro") bring powerful performances into the cast of mostly unknowns. Mickey Freeman's high-definition DV cinematography does much to add to the gritty atmosphere of many of the scenes. And Lee Percy ("Boys Don't Cry") lends his editing style to the film (along with first-timer Eric Goldstein), creating an effectively fractured sense of time, which works well in expressing the internal turmoil facing Dillon, the main character.
The overall strong performances and respectable production values of "Bill's Gun Shop" are indicative of Hyers' ability as a director to bring together a highly competent pool of talent and make the most of each person's contributions (even more commendable considering this was an independent production). As was stated earlier, Hyers shows great potential as a filmmaker and is someone to keep an eye on. Here's wishing him much success!
