RojoShoot em Up
“You know what I hate”. Clive Owen as Mr Smith catch line in ‘Shoot em Up‘.
My answer to this question was to having watched it.
Ok with it’s title, with the little I had seen of this film I wasn’t expecting much, you know, just 90 minutes of action which is what I got, in fact the amount of action was tantamount to Crank (which is a far better action film) but it was the way it was delivered which I had a problem with. Again we come back to delivery, the second key to life.
Delivery of a film starts with the script and I must say that ‘Shoot em Up’ sadly lacks, actually lacks is too nice a word, I think abominable is a better one. Some of the most egregious one liner’s ever conceived, a plot that revolves entirely around guns (with a name like that I forgive) too many men in black leather jackets, I mean every single bad guy and Owen, just to show he’s has a lot of bad in his character is wearing a black leather jacket, and a loose (like a wizards sleeve) political angle.
I felt extra cheated because as I stated before I wasn’t looking for much from the outset, but the opening scene had me thinking this could be a cool action film. Any man who can deliver a baby in the middle of a shoot out is got to be one cool cat. But as the films action scene tried to trump themselves they in fact just get worse, till finally a sky diving shoot out, yes really, a sky diving shoot out, who would have thunk it? Michael Davis that’s who. I can just see him now contriving it, “man that is a dope idea, dudes free falling a plane (a 747 no less) having a shoot out, but you know what? We won’t show one second of any of them putting on a parachute, now that the stuff movies are made of”. He’s right, if he mean that movie are made of shit.
(Little thing, as I write this I’m watching Last Man Standing with Bruce Willis, HIS NAME IS SMITH)
Ok Clive Owen, I like him, he’s a great actor what the hell is he doing in this (I’ll get to Giamatti). Is this some sort of atonement cast in the guise of regret for turning down Bond? Or is this a statement that he could have played Bond, (this and the BMW movies). Either way he shouldn’t be dulling his star with this film prolix.
On his carrot idiosyncrasy the jury is still out. He used this prop in most scenes I’m surprised he didn’t use it in the sex scene with Monica Bellucci, who despite being just so god damn hot it actually hurts to watch her; is sans any acting talent making viewing her just as painful.
Giamatti plays his character well. He is on par with the bad guy that Hoffman plays in Mission Impossible. He makes he part come alive despite the cringing lines he is required to deliver, he brings something lovable about his bad guy where Hoffman is plum-dog mean, there’s something endearing about a likable bad guy.
This movie should not be paid for. Wait to a friend gets it out or downloads it. Do not relive yourself of any wages for this tripe. I came away from this flick feeling as if I had used a public toilet on a Friday night, I really need to see something and I saw this. After it I felt violated and dirty.
4/10
Film & TV on DVD
I would never say Shoot Em Up is a good film but in the world of modern big dumb action films its one the few I could sit through (You can read my review HERE)..Because it trims all the superfluous fat (Eg: putting on parachutes) and tries only to convince you of its contrivances through kinetic choreography and visual trickery........now Bad Boys, Con Air and Van Damme films etc, thats what i call unwatchable.
Fun read as always, I may not agree with the final assessment but always get a kick out of your writing