Johnny Got His Gun

2008

1h 15m

Drama

List

21%

14 Reviews

Tomatometer

67%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

A young American soldier hit by an artillery shell becomes a quadruple amputee who has also lost his eyes, ears, nose and mouth, but remains conscious and able to reason, all the while struggling to communicate with the outside world.

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Joe Neumaier

New York Daily News

Unless viewers are aficionados of solo shows and want to see every one they can, this effort comes off as forced, far too self-aware and unfortunately dated.

Rated: 1/5

Dec 4, 2008

Full Review

Laura Kern

New York Times

Staged plays just aren't that cinematic, and even under the capable direction of Rowan Joseph, Mr. McKenzie doesn't provide enough spark to offset the problem.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 4, 2008

Full Review

Frank Scheck

Hollywood Reporter

It's hard not to wish that the novel had instead been newly adapted into a real film by a director with the requisite daring and imagination.

Dec 4, 2008

Full Review

Charles Ealy

Austin American-Statesman

Johnny Got His Gun won't break any box-office records. But it should find a small but loyal audience.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 5, 2008

Full Review

David Noh

Film Journal International

McKenzie has the perfect boy-next-door looks as well as the physical intensity and ardent naturalism to hold your interest. It's a tour-de-force performance, and Joseph's camerawork is fluid and sensitive.

Dec 5, 2008

Full Review

Marco Cerritos

Boxoffice Magazine

The story of a wounded soldier during World War I and his hallucinations about life and combat serve as a poignant reminder of our country's current situation, but don(TM)t do much to elevate it beyond that.

Rated: 2.5/5

Oct 22, 2008

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Audience Member

I saw this film in Reading, PA at the GoggleWorks Theatre. That was over 3 weeks ago and the film has stuck with me all this time. First of all, Ben McKenzie (Yes, the guy from the O.C) is absolutely wonderful in this film. For an actor to be alone on screen for 77 minutes with just a camera, a bench and a chair takes alot of courage. WOW! If you are an actor, just this alone will blow you away. And this is a task that not just any actor could pull off. Granted the words of Dalton Trumbo are incredible and the direction was very very good. To make a performance of a one person piece this good and on film that was adapted from a play from the novel is incredible. The lighting was incredible too. Hats off to all involved in this small, but very important film. I am looking forward to seeing it on DVD or VOD when it comes out. Also seems like it would work well on PBS. SEE THIS FILM. :)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

good but hard 2 watch

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's really a filmed live stage performance but honestly I thought it was a lot truer to the book (which I will never forget reading) than the '71 film. The guy's stuck in his head just like in the book. McKenzie is amazing, frightening, and heartbreaking.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

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Rowan Joseph

Director

Matty Ferraro

Voice

Meredith Kendall

Mother's Voice

Benjamin McKenzie

Joe Bonham

Rowan Joseph

Actor

Shane Partlow

Actor

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33%

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81%

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Synopsis

A young American soldier hit by an artillery shell becomes a quadruple amputee who has also lost his eyes, ears, nose and mouth, but remains conscious and able to reason, all the while struggling to communicate with the outside world.

Director: Rowan Joseph
Producer: John Meindl
Screenwriter: Bradley Rand Smith, Dalton Trumbo
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2019
Runtime: 1h 15m

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