Young Guns

Starring: Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen, Terrence Stamp, Jack Palance, Dermot Mulroney, Casey Siemaszko
Written by: John Fusco 
Director: Christopher Cain
Year: 1988

Rating: * * * *  Stars       +       (Fan Bonus - )  Total: * * * *

A Wild West adventure for the MTV generation, Young Guns follows six regulators turned law enforcement, turned outlaws, led by none other than Billy "The Kid."

After being taken in by John Tunstall (Terrence Stamp), young Billy Bonney (Emilio Estevez) finds shelter, work, and friendship on Tunstall's ranch. John Tunstall runs his home as part cattle ranch, part reform school, hoping to give troubled youth some guidance and direction. However, Tunstall has competition in the beef market in one vengeful Irishman named Lawrence Murphy (Jack Palance). With the towns Sheriff and other politicians on the payroll, Murphy pressures Tunstall to sell his property to monopolize the market. After several refusals, Murphy's men gun down Tunstall in cold blood.

The Regulators, including Bonney, "Doc" Scurlock (Kiefer Sutherland), "Dick" Brewer (Charlie Sheen),  Chavez y Chavez (Lou Diamond Phillips), Steve Stephens (Dermot Mulroney), and Charley Bowdre (Casey Siemaszko) seek out Tunstall's lawyer Alex McSween (Terry O'Quinn) who sees them all sworn in as deputies. With the law on their side, they seek out Murphy's men to bring them to justice, except for Billy Bonney, who seeks revenge. Instead of arresting, he shoots them dead. Eventually they lose their deputized status, and become outlaws. Now, while hunting down Tunstall's killers,they themselves are hunted by Murphy's men, bounty hunters, and even the U.S. Army.

Emilio Estevez is wonderful as William H. "The Kid" Bonney. He seems to thrive on trouble, and gets into plenty of it. His unpredictable, mischief nature keeps even his fellow regulators on edge. Kiefer Sutherland is the emotional anchor as "Doc", the tenderfoot of the group. Adept with a riffle as well as poetry, Doc falls for a young Asian concubine who's been sold to Murphy. Lou Diamond Phillips is in arguably the best role of his career as the Mexican/Indian knife throwing half-breed Chavez. The rest of the cast also put in outstanding performances.

Young Guns is a stylized, fictional account of the real life Billy "The Kid." Western historians looking for a true story will be disappointed. However as a fun western action flick with a familiar name, it doesn't get better. Young Guns runs the full gambit of wild west fare, including shoot outs, chases, incredible scenery, with more authentic looking costuming and sets than old style John Wayne westerns. This film was followed up in 1990 by a worthy sequel. 

SEE THE TRAILER: Young Guns