Hickok
2017  NR  WESTERN  1h 28min
CAST— Luke Hemsworth
MUSIC— Andrew Joslyn  DIRECTOR— Timothy Woodward, Jr.

     Passable excuse for a modern Western. Luke Hemsworth plays the man, the legend, Wild Bill Hickok. Along his dusty trail he wanders into the town of Abilene, Kansas, a place for gamblers, drinkers and outlaws. The mayor of Abilene (Kris Kristofferson) knows Hickok's reputation as a gunslinger and decides that is exactly what this burg needs for a lawman. He deputizes Hickok as city marshal just in time for him to meet local mover and shaker Phil Poe (Trace Adkins), who just so happens to be engaged to Hickok's former flame. Hickok begins to stir things up in town, especially when he passes a city ordinance banning firearms within city limits. This and the fact that he’s just plain ticking off Poe leads Poe to offer his men a $500 reward for Wild Bill’s head. And the inevitable shootouts and standoffs occur. Pretty understated and low key, even in moments that should be neither. The addition of veteran actors add class to the proceedings but overall the viewer is in for a rather mediocre horse opera.
OUR RATING— **