Wichita

Went and saw this at the movies last night. Wasn't sure what to expect but I was pretty engrossed throughout the film. Not the typical cowboy movie but more of a gritty look at the old west. It's one of those movies that you have to pay attention to. There is a lot going on with this movie and it builds to a very surprising and climatic ending. Movie certainly deserves it's R rating as the violence in the movie can be brutal but so is this depiction of the old west. I gave it such a high rating because most westerns that are coming out these days just seem like you've seen them before. The look of this film and it's actors are really gritty. I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple actors make it big after this movie, especially the young girl who steals any scene she is in. Very impressive western.

So let me say that WICHITA is not a western for the casual genre fan raised on GUNSMOKE and BONANZA reruns. Nevertheless WICHITA delivers for film fans as well as Western Fans.

While many of the traditional elements of "the western" exist, WICHITA was obviously inspired more by the darker, somewhat cruel film-noirish category of film. The black hat-white hat, play along at home game doesn't exist. Each character has his own demons. The story unfolds violently and deliberately. Much like the work of Sam Peckinpah and, Budd Boetticher the film adopts an unpretentious style, taking a relaxed approach to the story unfolding and letting the actors and screenplay drive the film.

It's not perfect by any means, yet it show promise for the film maker and the cast. It's a film that inspires discussion afterwards and probably has more sociological elements explored than the average western. Enjoy and then be prepared to discuss.

The story takes place in Wichita, the heart of the Midwest. As each character is introduced, you begin to wonder how they fit into the story. It is not until the very end that all is revealed. The actors do a superb job of walking you though the story. This movie was so much fun. At the end, the crowd of over 1,000, spontaneously erupted into applause. This is the kind of movie that goes by so fast you can't believe it's at the end. Nicholas Barton's writing and vision of the film was spot on. If you want a predictable movie, this one is NOT for you! No big special effects, just a great story line that carries you through the movie.

Surprising twists. The ending alone is worth the price of admission. Despite it being fictional I felt like the plot and cinematography sure seemed like the 1880's might have felt. I want to watch it again. This type of film-making is a refreshing acknowledgment that people with passion, a good script, and talent both in front and behind the camera can put together an enjoyable movie experience. In the grand scheme of what counts as movie making, this filmmakers use of resources and location choices show us indie film lovers that scenes are always around us waiting to be released into art. Go see the film, or get it on DVD and open your mind to a growing genre - movies that artists make on their own terms.

My husband & I saw this film in our hometown of Wellington, Ks. It was filmed & made by folks around our neck of the woods. We thought the story started off a bit confusing by introducing so many different characters without back stories but their stories unfolded well over the length of the film. In our opinions, it's a dark western with an original story line. Quite an impressive endeavor, for a few people with one camera. We were totally pleased with the end result & recommend this film to anyone, especially people who enjoy westerns set in the late 1800s. Impressive use of many local venues to make the audience feel like they'd stepped back in time.