Movies You Gotta Catch: Young Guns

Young Guns

Directed by: Christopher Cain

Year: 1988

Genre: Western

Starring: Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen, Dermot Mulroney, Casey Siemaszko, Terence Stamp, and Jack Palance.

Plot:

Based on the true events of the Lincoln County Wars, a young William H. Bonney, better known to history as “Billy The Kid” joins up with a group of young, vagrant, derelict runaways, who were given a second chance at life by the entrepreneurial and enterprising young Englishman, John Tunstall. A greedy Irish merchant named Lawrence Murphy has total control over the town of Lincoln and doesn’t like that Mr. Tunstall is creating competition for him, driving down his profits. After trying to goad him into gunfights, and accusing him of thievery, the Muphy-Dolan gang outright murders John in cold blood. Avenging his death, The Regulators go on the hunt for John’s Killers and try to expose the corruption that is strangling their town.

What’s so good about it?

If it weren’t for the 80’s rock and roll soundtrack this movie would be a timeless classic. Despite that one drawback, this is one of the better western’s you will ever see. It’s like the Breakfast Club with guns! The story, as incredible as it may seem, is actually very close to how history would tell it. There are horse chases and gun fights. Heroes die. Emilio Estevez plays Billy the Kid in one of the best roles of his life, even better then the coach in the Mighty Ducks. This is one of the few films where he also gets to star on screen with his real life brother Charlie Sheen. We have Charlie in his prime in this movie. You know, before the partying, HIV, and the Crack so he’s got all his teeth and great skin! We don’t see the Estevez brothers on screen again until “Men at Work” (1990), a Movie for a future MYGC. Kiefer Sutherland is lovable and charming as a reluctant gangster/cowboy poet. Lou Diamond Phillips is the knife wielding, peyote drinking native American Chavez y Chavez. Dermot Mulroney shows his early acting chops as Dirty Steve, with cinema veterans Terence Stamp, and Jack Palance rounding out the all star cast. Action, comedy, a little bit of romance and some tender moments make this a movie you gotta catch with a very high replay value! Giddy up!

Quotable Lines:

“Hey, Did you know that pigs is as smart as dogs? It’s true. I know this fella down in El Capitan, taught his Pig to bark at strangers.”-Charley Bowdre to Billy the Kid who’s having trouble with the hogs.

“He ‘aint all there now is he?”- Dirty Steve observing Billy the Kid on several occasions.

“What you doin’ here, boy? We work for Mr. Tunstall’s as Regulators. We regulate any stealing of his property. we’re damn good too…But you can’t be any Geek off the street, you got to be handle with the steel if you know what I mean, earn your keep.”- Charley Bowdre to Billy the Kid when explaining how they manage to stay on the Ranch in the Tunstall Company.

“I’m a pugilist!”-Charley Bowdre explain his skill set to Billy The Kid

“Buenos Dias, Shitheads!”-Dick Brewer surprising some Murphy men in an ambush.

“Aw, this is bullshit. The damn papers can’t get anything right.”- Dick Brewer upset that the papers named Billy the leader of the gang but used his image.

“(laughing)Jesus Christ, this country needs a hero.”- Doc Scurlock when reading the sensational articles about Billy The Kids exploits.

“Did you guys see the size of that chicken?!” “Did you see the size of that cock-a-doodle-godddam-doo?”- Dirty Steve tripping on Peyote.

“Hey Chavez, How come they ain’t killin’ us?”“Cause we’re in the spirit world asshole, they can’t see us!”-Charley asking Chavez but Dirty Steve explains why the local Indian Tribe isn’t attacking them after their Spirit walk.

“He’s killed more people then small pox.”-Charley describing how dangerous Buckshot Roberts is.

“When you got yourself a couple of pals, then you’ve got a tribe.”- Billy trying to convince Chavez not to leave the gang.