Seven Psychopaths (2012)
Directed by Martin McDonagh
This is pure fun, a twisted crime comedy with an all-star cast firing on all cylinders. Colin Farrell plays a struggling screenwriter named Marty trying to finish his script "Seven Psychopaths" while his friends Billy (Sam Rockwell) and Hans (Christopher Walken) run a dog-kidnapping scheme that goes sideways when they steal a gangster's (Woody Harrelson) beloved Shih Tzu. The plot is twisted in more ways than one, folding back on itself as the real-life chaos becomes material for Marty's screenplay.
The meta angle works here. McDonagh plays with the conventions of violent crime films while making one, commenting on the genre while delivering exactly what the genre promises: sharp dialogue, gleeful violence, eccentric characters. It's Tarantino viewed through the British dry humor lens, all the blood and wit but with that sardonic distance that keeps it from taking itself too seriously.
The cast is phenomenal. Rockwell is manic energy, Walken brings his particular brand of calm menace and unexpected tenderness, Harrelson is perfectly unhinged, and Tom Waits shows up because of course he does. Farrell grounds the chaos, playing the one sane person trying to make sense of the madness while realizing he's complicit in creating it.
This is a film that knows exactly what it is and enjoys every minute of it.
my rating 7/10
Just for the record, I'm not offended by what you think. A world where everyone thought alike would not be a place I want to live. I recently watched 2 films all the way through to the end and they both sucked (IMO). I want my 4 hours back. There have been others I did turn off. Sometimes it's just a mood thing and sometimes its not. So yeah... it's all good. -OP
Yeah, I'm not criticizing anyone's taste in movies here so I didn't think there's anything to get offended about. Seven Psychopaths is a still good attempt at making original movie. There's nothing technically wrong with it. That's why I think it's interesting that it didn't resonate with me at all. With this type of movies director's style is very important and sometimes it just doesn't work for you.