A lot of fun.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Most of the other bad reviews pretty much sum up the awful, uninspiring acting. But it's really bad on other levels as well. As a master carpenter and pioneer crafts enthusiast, I found the set to be utterly absurd. If I was playing a drinking game based on all the non period correct flubs, I'd be 3 sheets to the wind in 15 minutes. Just a few examples, because the movie was too painful to endure for more than that long. 1st scene: The oil lamp chimney is smooth glass with a flat cut top. Not the flared rippled top as ALL oil lamps of that period had. No carbon stains on the glass at all, just a brand new prop from Walmart, filled with water, just like the brand new stamped steel tray next to it. 2nd scene: The porch posts were finger jointed and CNC turned, neither of which existed back then, clear as day right above the "vote" sign (which also used v-match t&g milling. This also did not exist yet). It was incredibly expensive to get hand turned posts from the east, sent by train. They simple didn't use them for ordinary structures. Only the richest of the rich used ornate dimensional lumber. I mean, you could have smeared mud on them or something; dinged them up a little. NO doors back then had glass in them, except for banks. ALL glass was reserved for windows only on east, south and west facing walls. The glass was also "wavy" glass, no larger than 14" square for those that have done any glazier work and/or restoration, you know the deal. These details indicate to me that whoever was in charge of the set, didn't know half of what they should have or simply didn't care. It completely lacked any authenticity for me. Anybody that reads wild western period literature knows this stuff. The director and/or set manager clearly does not. In addition to bad acting, there's entirely too much dialog, and CHEESY, predictable dialog at that...poorly delivered. There's no unspoken body language which serves to express and carry a scene without the non period correct chit chat. Many of the best Westerns are great because of this. Up to the first 7 minutes there could have been zero dialog and still would have accomplished more to convey tension and emotion than what was. This movie is like a bad first draft of a bad high school play. A tired script and story line of poorly executed, cliché characters.The film quality and cinematography was excellent, good job there. The audio and music was OK, but could have used a little more silence. Good mix and production. That's the only redeeming quality to this joke of a movie. The positive reviews are clearly people involved with the movie. It's best to just put this lame horse out of it's misery.

I am a great fan of westerns, and so few good ones are made any more, so I was really impressed with this film. It has all the traditional western motifs, with a little bit of The Searchers and a dash of classic Tragedy (for fans of theater). Well done movie, full of emotion and action. The reviewer above sounds suspiciously like either an internet troll or a frustrated wannabe. It was a good film, great script with characters of depth and complexity, good production values, solid acting and authentic settings, costumes and even dialogue. If only more of this high standard Western could be brought to film. Kudos to Miller and his production.

I ordered it three weeks ago. It was worth the wait. Living by the Gun is better than the westerns I grew up with. They were fun but not very realistic. Living by the Gun felt real. There were no drop holsters until Hollywood invented them. This movie avoided the unauthentic look of Hollywood westerns. Everything, costumes,tack, language and sets were a pleasure to enjoy. I read in one of the reviews that it is like a Greek tragedy. It is better than a Greek tragedy, it's an old west tragedy. The Uncle lived a tragic life like so many of the early pioneers. The rest of the cast looked authentic. Most westerns today are populated by pretty people that look out of place in the old west. I hope they make a sequel about the Niece and what happens to her.

I loved this movie! It was the high light of the Film Fest Twain Harte. One of the best westerns I've seen. It was pure, authentic and intense. The protagonists were great, menacing yet tenderly human. I loved the themes of simplicity, with dialogue and story. I loved the portrayal of these people's simple faith as exemplified by the Fords. This was how these pioneers made sense of their lives, lives that were brutal, harsh and often short. The sets,costumes and music were terrific. The camera work was outstanding. The technology( guns,bridles, saddles, etc.) were accurate and in keeping with the period.All great westerns are about good, evil and big emotions. Nothing existential or imbued with heavy doses of psychology. Great movies move you emotionally and this movie is no exception. Well done!