Two Sinners and a Mule

• Directed by Raleigh Wilson
• April 21, 2023 (US)

Run out of town, two prostitutes stumble across a wounded bounty hunter and join with him to bring in a dangerous outlaw.

Like many Westerns, Two Sinners and a Mule is the story of a mismatched group working together. It is certainly nothing great or original nor does a film need to be. Movies are first and foremost entertainment so to mildly paraphrase Maximus I ask, “Are you entertained?”

The two sinners of the story are Alice (Chantelle Albers) and Nora (Hannah James) with the implication being the mule (think “ass”) is less-than-couth bounty hunter Eldon (Cam Gigandet) chasing after the villainous Grimes (Cord Newman). When the pair nurse Eldon back to health from a gunshot, they become a trio with the hunt for Grimes being an excuse to tell their story.

Being the first man that does not treat them strictly as a term that would be anachronistic and inappropriate, Eldon becomes quite attractive to both Alice and Nora. What should be drawn out a bit becomes obvious in the first moments. Eldon quickly rebuffs Nora but engages rhetorically with Alice. Chantelle Albers and Cam Gigandet are okay as actors though that spark of something great for the characters never emerges. There are moments of reflection and thought between the two as Hannah James’ Nora gets further and further from prominence.

All the actors along with the script are good enough that none of the characters blur together. They react logically as created and even by their story’s end are a little different. Even the quarry of Grimes gets some depth. Director Raleigh Wilson aimed for something more character driven yet interspersed with traditional Western action. Not calling it some hidden masterpiece but it helps to get you through issues like poor camera work.

The general cheapness is not as severe as some others I have seen but does amplify the weaknesses elsewhere in the film. This is offset by an adequate script and some better-than-expected performances. Nobody here will ever win an award, but they are good enough to differentiate their characters.

Cam Gigandet is charming as Eldon. He starts as a bit of a jerk because he can be one but as the movie goes on you learn it’s more because of his past and he’s not a jerk to be a jerk in the movie. The actor behind Grimes is no great surprise but generates enough spark to appear as a genuine threat along with being a nasty guy. His gang and other assorted characters are little more than window dressing once we get beyond the dusty town’s citizens. To give Nora a little bit more she has a past with the local Native American tribe who meet up with the trio but it amounts to not much for the film.

At around 90 minutes it doesn’t overstay its welcome. It keeps this story moving but doesn’t try to stretch more than one could get out of it. Maybe it’s just me, but the ending seems like it’s been occurring in a lot of newer Westerns on the cheap side. It’s tragic and it works but given that this was of a more romantic nature, I would like to have seen a happier ending. Not saying I hated it.

Two Sinners and a Mule was an entertaining film. I never felt like I was bored though I would’ve liked a different ending. Maybe not a hidden gem, but an enjoyable viewing.