Review of Free Fire (2017) by Glenn G — 15 Apr 2017

PECK AND PAW - My Review of FREE FIRE (2 Stars).

British director Ben Wheatley sure does love the 70s and confined spaces. His last film, HIGH-RISE, featured ultra-sleek visuals set almost entirely within the titular building. I admire filmmakers who rise to the challenge of confronting claustrophobia head-on, and extra points for adding bell bottoms and shag hairdos to the mix! His latest, co-written with frequent collaborator Amy Jump, sets itself entirely within a warehouse and eschews the previously-used sheen for a grimy, grainy aesthetic most likely as an homage to the films of Sam Peckinpah, such as STRAW DOGS, THE KILLER ELITE, and THE GETAWAY. Truth be told, when I first saw the trailer for FREE FIRE, I thought it was the cinematic reboot of THE MOD SQUAD. Up to a point, it may as well be, but then things take a much more bloody turn.

The filmmakers deftly set up the story. Justine (Brie Larson) and her co-horts, including Chris (Cillian Murphy) and Frank (Michael Smiley) seek to purchase assault rifles from Vernon (Sharlto Copley) and his gang, all of which has been brokered by Ord (Armie Hammer), who in his condescending way, tries to keep the peace. The slight contentiousness of the deal worsens when one of Vernon's people, Harry (SING STREET's amazing Jack Raynor), recognizes Stevo (Sam Riley) from Justine's group as a man who assaulted his sister the prior evening. All hell breaks loose and the entire rest of the film consists of a gun battle. The End.

Ugh. Once the bullets started to fly, I checked out. It just went on and on and on with virtually no point to any of it. As a genre exercise, I can certainly appreciate the sustained tension, the ability to make a confined space interesting, the mastery of such a complicated fight roadmap , and the tough, spirited performances, but a loud, endless nod to better works with literally nothing else on its mind does not a great movie make. If you Google Image "Free Fire Poster", however, you're in for a real throwback treat. I love and want EVERY SINGLE ONE SHEET! It took me back to a time when studios released films with such titles as MOTHER, JUGS, and SPEED or DIRTY MARY CRAZY LARRY. It seemed like every week, B-movies with scuzzy visuals would come out and provide a cheap thrill or too. FREE FIRE aims as low as its older cousins...and, yay?

Despite my overall loathing of the film, it does have its bright spots. Most of the cast gets to shine, with Larson relishing the opportunity to scream, shoot, and take bullets with the gusto of Ali Macgraw or Susan George. Copley annoys the hell out of me in almost everything he's done, but I can't deny that he likes taking things to the edge. Here, he presents himself as a wackier version of Christian Bale in AMERICAN HUSTLE, and he's pretty fun, but I just wanted his character to die sooner rather than later. Hammer has some fun, commanding moments, and Riley does a fine job subbing for what was obviously the Michael Shannon part.

After a while, however, it all descends into a pile of mush. I gave up caring who was with who and the filmmakers almost deliberately blur those lines anyhow. It's an existentialist nightmare with almost no reason to exist. I suppose you could do worse than watching really good actors take bullets for 90 minutes in a deft genre exercise, but then again, maybe you can't.