Review of Shoot 'Em Up (2007) by Dennis L — 31 Mar 2012

Brilliant! Quentin Tarantino eat your heart out.

Michael Davis has created a brilliant dark comedy so action packed and over the top that Tarantino is probably kicking himself for not having this idea first.

The Story: Story? Who needs a story? It's got guns, sex and a baby! Okay there is a story but it's minimalistic and convoluted to say the very least... But watching this for substance is like watching 300 for it's amazing acting... There's a politician, some baby harvesting, a big gun company and lots and lots of bloodshed.

It's stylish in a dark film noir way, as gritty as you can get without literally sticking your head in a sandbox. The violence is realistically over the top, the sex isn't necessary but is pretty funny none the less. The cinematography is so well planned and the action sequences so perfectly choreographed that there's no denying that a lot of heart was put into this disturbing work of art.

The biggest flaw is that it's billed as an all out action flick, that you hit the ground running and never stop until the credits roll... Well it is true that it's all out action, and you do hit the ground running but you hit a brick wall every 15 minutes or so. Sit down knowing full well that the action will and does stop occasionally and crawl at a snails pace. If you know that going in you won't dissapointed... If you sit down expecting nothing but action you might just be a little less forgiving.

The Cast: Clive Owen, Monica Bellucci, Paul Giamatti...

Clive Owen is hillarious. The stranger thrust into the role of the guarding a helpless child, risking his own life to keep "it" alive, and ultimately put an end to a twisted conspiracy. His acting is serious and cartoonishly over the top at the same time. Never has there been an action hero with so many one liners in one movie. Eat your vegitables. Monica Bellucci is hit or miss she brings little to the story and really serves only as a way to get the baby out of all the action sequences. Her acting isn't outstanding but it's not horrendous... Also it is worth mentioning (and pardon me for sounding like the guy that I am), that she is incredibly hot. Paul Giamatti is our wonderful villain. A human tracking device he always manages to find the baby, the broad, or the hero. A funny villain that takes himself serious enough to be frightening but laid back enough to be almost likeable.

One to Five Scale: 4.

Take it for what it is and don't ask questions. Dark humour, over the top violence, and great comic book dialogue. Though there's moments of boredom they're forgiven by moments of sheer adrenaline.

A love it or hate it experience... I happened to love it.