“The day they lay you away, what I do on your grave won’t pass for flowers.” —Marshall Thibido
Today’s quick review: The Shootist. J.B. Books (John Wayne), an aging gunfighter, travels to Carson City for a medical examination, where Doc Hostetler (James Stewart) informs him that he has terminal cancer. Hoping to live out his remaining weeks in peace, Books rents a room from Bond Rogers (Lauren Bacall) and her son Gillom (Ron Howard). But when the secret of his illness gets out, Books must fend off a flood of outlaws looking to kill him first.
The Shootist is a Western drama about the last days of a legendary gunfighter. The film explores Books’ personality, his credo, and how he chooses to spend his dwindling time. John Wayne delivers a confident yet very human performance as Books, who rejects the public frenzy surrounding his death and instead focuses on putting his affairs in order. Grounded conflict and an organic plot make The Shootist a unique and memorable Western.
The Shootist portrays the classic archetype of the heroic gunfighter in a new light. As the Old West fades away, one of its greatest living legends faces his final battle against an incurable disease. The film does a skillful job of showing Books’ weakened condition wile still respecting the skills and attitude that made his name. The result is a respectful sendoff for a particular kind of Western hero embodied by John Wayne.
The Shootist accomplishes a rare feat, turning a genre on its head while staying true to its spirit. The calm strength of J.B. Books, the details of his final days, and the handful of gunfights he has left are more than enough to carry the film. The Shootist is not as sentimental as other, similar movies, which may affect how much it resonates with some viewers. But its many positive qualities make it worth a watch for anyone interested.
For another Western starring John Wayne as an aging gunfighter, try Big Jake. For a Western comedy about the end of an era, try My Name is Nobody. For a modern crime drama about a grizzled old man passing down life lessons to his young protege, try Gran Torino.
[7.6 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075213/). I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for a moving story.