Shoot or Be Shot

Shoot or Be Shot is a low-budget independent film that premiered in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota on January 25, 2002.[1] This comedy film satirizes the filmmaking movement Dogme 95.[2] The idea for the film was inspired by The Producers and An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn.[3]

Shoot or Be Shot
Two men standing next to each other, the man on the left wearing a white straitjacket and the man on the right wearing a blue-and-white Aloha shirt and smoking a cigar
Directed byJ. Randall Argue
Screenplay byJ. Randall Argue
Steve Catanzaro
Alistair Salton
Produced byJ. Randall Argue
Ralph Linhardt
Michael Tarzian
Ralph Winter
StarringWilliam Shatner
Harry Hamlin
Scott Rinker
Julianne Christie
Marcus Ashley
CinematographyRalph Linhardt
Edited byTom Dignan
Rich Mikan
Music byJoseph Alfuso
Production
company
Distributed by20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release date
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Shoot or Be Shot has a runtime of 90 minutes and was directed by J. Randall Argue.[4] At the time of the film's theatrical release, two other films Shatner was involved with were nearing their release dates: Showtime, in which he acted as himself, and Groom Lake, which he directed.[5]

Premise

William Shatner stars in the film as Harvey Wilkes, a patient who escapes from a psychiatric hospital to a desert, kidnaps a film crew there, and forces them to make a movie.[6]

Release and reception

Shoot or Be Shot was released on DVD by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment in May 2004.[7] Ian Jane of DVD Talk gave the film a negative review, saying that the film is "just not funny".[8] Michelle Fajkus of Hybrid Cinema, who also gave the film a negative review, wrote that the film promotes stereotypes with its use of stock characters, such as the dumb blonde.[9] Jeff Strickler of the Star Tribune called the film "a low-rent version of Bowfinger".[10]

References
  1. "Shatner and Hamlin Join Forces for a Parody Film". San Jose Mercury News. January 27, 2002. p. 2A.
  2. Matthew Tobey (2014). "Shoot or Be Shot". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 14, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  3. "At Least 'Shoot' has a Hair Trigger". St. Paul Pioneer Press. January 25, 2002. p. E3.
  4. Marjorie Baumgarten (January 25, 2002). "Shoot or Be Shot". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  5. Larry King (February 21, 2002). "Interview with William Shatner". Larry King Live. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  6. William Shatner; David Fisher (2009). Up Till Now: The Autobiography. Macmillan Publishers. p. 293. ISBN 978-1429937979.
  7. Mike Antonucci (May 14, 2004). "Face Time with... William Shatner, Actor". San Jose Mercury News. p. 2G.
  8. Ian Jane (May 19, 2004). "Shoot or Be Shot". DVD Talk. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  9. Michelle Fajkus. "Shoot or Be Shot". Hybrid Magazine. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  10. Jeff Strickler (January 24, 2002). "'Shoot or Be Shot' is a low-rent version of 'Bowfinger'". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
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