Outlaw Johnny Black is a 2023 American western comedy film directed by Michael Jai White, who co-wrote the script with Byron Keith Minns. It is a spiritual sequel to Black Dynamite, with White and Minns reprising their roles. It was released theatrically on September 15, 2023, and received mixed reviews from film critics. It is also the final film appearance of Erica Ash due to her death in 2024.[1][2]
| Outlaw Johnny Black | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Michael Jai White |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Keith L. Smith |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Michael Bearden |
Production company | Jaigantic Studios |
| Distributed by | Samuel Goldwyn Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 135 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $319,848 |
Premise
editJohnny Black is a saint turned sinner, who is hell-bent on avenging his father's death. Johnny Black vows to gun down Brett Clayton and becomes a wanted man in the process, all while posing as a preacher in a small mining town that's been taken over by a notorious land baron.
Cast
edit- Michael Jai White as Outlaw Johnny Black
- Anika Noni Rose as Jessie Lee
- Erica Ash as Bessie Lee
- Byron Keith Minns as Reverend Percy
- Chris Browning as Brett Clayton
- Barry Bostwick as Tom Sheally
- Randy Couture as Bill Basset
- Kevin Chapman as U.S. Marshal Cove
- Kym Whitley as Sister Betty
- Tommy Davidson as Clancy
- Buddy Lewis as Deacon Fry
- Gary Anthony Williams as Mayor Williams
- Tony Baker as Sherriff Yarbrough
- Eme Ikwuakor as Elmer
- Jalyn Hall as Young Johnny Black
- Donald Cerrone as Crackshot Bob
- Jill Scott as Maw Belle
- Roger Yuan as Lee
- Tomm Voss as Kane
- Michael Madsen as Dutch
- Josh Barnett as Bobo
- Glynn Turman as Bullseye Black
- Paul Sloan as Eddie
- Heath Freeman as Jed Clayton
- Russell Peters as Big Chief
Release
editOutlaw Johnny Black was released by Samuel Goldwyn Films on September 15, 2023.[3] In the United States and Canada it opened to $178,176 in 307 theaters, and grossed a total of $319,848.[4]
Reception
editOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 66% of 29 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.9/10.[5] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 54 out of 100, based on five critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[6]
Joe Leydon of Variety wrote that the film was "not nearly as free-wheeling and fleet-footed as Black Dynamite, the 2009 satirical comedy that cast White as a Shaft-like action hero, the new film nonetheless provides more than a few good laughs, even when it seems to be taking horse opera clichés a tad too respectfully, and showcases a fine cast of actors dedicated to both the silliness and the seriousness of the enterprise".[7] RogerEbert.com's Rendy Jones gave the film a score of two and half out of four and wrote, "Though it takes too long to get his gun out, Outlaw Johnny Black is a well-crafted and funny Spaghetti Western comedy with a refreshing goofiness and a delightful lead".[8]
Sarah-Tai Black writing for Los Angeles Times said, "Overall, Outlaw Johnny Black mostly seems unsure of how to navigate its Monty Python-inspired parodic impulses alongside its clear reverence for the genre. Instead, White has offered a jumbled array of all-too-well-trod tropes and stereotypes that, all in all, can’t seem to hit the mark in terms of finding the sweet spot of being "so bad it’s good"."[9] Writing for The New York Times, Brandon Yu felt the film "struggles to establish a comedic rhythm" and went on to say "the laughs are lost within an overly long, meandering plot and scenes that miss visual polish or comedic concision".[10]
References
edit- ^ Pedersen, Erik (July 29, 2024). "Erica Ash Dies: 'Survivor's Remorse' & 'Real Husbands Of Hollywood' Actor Was 46". Deadline. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ Kuznikov, Selena (July 29, 2024). "Erica Ash, 'Survivor's Remorse' Actor, Dies at 46". Variety. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
- ^ Tyrrell, Caitlin (September 14, 2023). "Michael Jai White Is A Force To Reckon With In Outlaw Johnny Black Clip [Exclusive]". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ "Outlaw Johnny Black - Weekend". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ "Outlaw Johnny Black". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ "Outlaw Johnny Black". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ Leydon, Joe (September 14, 2023). "Outlaw Johnny Black Review: An Amusing Homage to Spaghetti Western and Blaxploitation Elements". Variety. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ Jones, Rendy (September 15, 2023). "Outlaw Johnny Black movie review (2023)". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ Black, Sarah-Tai (September 16, 2023). "Review: Jumbled Western parody Outlaw Johnny Black doesn't know which horse to ride in on". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ Yu, Brandon (September 14, 2023). "Outlaw Johnny Black Review: Vengeance Is on His Mind". The New York Times. Retrieved October 26, 2023.