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Shoot 'Em Up
Directed by: Michael Davis
Starring: Clive Owen
Genre:
Action-Adventure/
Comedy
Run Time: 86
min.
Release Date:
September 2007
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
It might be tough for me to
explain why I so loved this film, but I’ll give it a go anyway.
After recently watching and reviewing
THE KINGDOM, I explained that I
wasn’t one of those movie critics who enjoyed action over plot (with a
few exceptions, of course). And this is why I fell head-over-heels for
SHOOT ‘EM UP. It is precisely an action over plot film. But wait! Let me
explain! It’s that and quite a bit more.
What Shoot ‘em up does is take that style of action and put it into
absolutely ludicrous proportions. And in doing so it makes great fun of
itself and all those action films that’ve come before. From the
gun-loving and reluctant dark hero, to the hooker with a heart of gold,
Shoot ‘em up takes these themes to far out extremes and makes for some
of the funniest scenes you’ll ever see.
Let me give you an example: In one scene Mr. Smith (Clive Owen,
CHILDREN
OF MEN), our dark hero, escapes with a newborn baby from some bad guys
and runs into a very filthy bathroom. He promptly jumps into a stall and
up onto the toilet so that anyone entering won’t be able to see his feet
below the stall door. But, while juggling the baby and his most beloved
handgun, he drops the pistol into the toilet. Thinking quickly, he puts
the baby down on the disgusting floor, fishes his gun from the toilet
bowl, heads over to the baby changing station on the wall, and begins
lovingly cleaning his weapon while the baby gurgles happily from the
heavily soiled floor.
If you don’t like this kind of humor then, please, stay away from this
movie.
This is quite a departure from previous Clive Owen films that I’ve seen.
Being more of the “serious” actor, it was nice to see him in something
so ridiculously funny and out of (what I thought to be) character for
him.
The other surprise was the estimable Paul Giamatti (LADY IN THE WATER)
as a hitman out to kill the mother of the baby that Owen’s character
initially saves. Not only does Hertz (Giamatti) want the woman dead, but
also her child. But when an unsuspecting tough guy named Mr. Smith
(Owens) inadvertently gets involved in his “business”, Giamatti’s
character gets much more than he bargained for. This was quite a change
of pace for Giamatti who tends to play quieter characters. Here in Shoot
‘em up he’s a loud sociopath with a penchant for killing. He’s also
hysterically funny as he tries to kill the baby and now Mr. Smith all
while juggling a demanding wife who continually calls him on the phone
at the most inopportune times (“Honey. I’m busy right now. I’ll have to
call you back.”)
Donna Quintano (Monica Bellucci) plays the hooker with a heart of gold
role after Mr. Smith (Owens) comes to her for assistance with the baby.
Donna recently lost her own child and Mr. Smith knows that having a new
baby around will help her ...as well as himself. But her morals aren’t
very well-grounded. When they run out of money to buy bullets, Donna
tries to help by utilizing her prostitute skills near a dumpster ...much
to the chagrin of Mr. Smith.
Plot-wise, it doesn’t make much sense. There’s a series of scenes
devoted to why Giamatti’s character is trying to kill the baby
(politics, advanced medicine, presidential candidates, etc.) but it
doesn’t make much difference. It is the outlandish antics of Mr. Smith
and his over-the-top James Bond-ish shooting abilities that make this
film what it is. And you’ll howl with laughter as the bullets fly, the
targets get hit with impossible accuracy, the prostitute and the tough
guy fall for each other, all while this newborn takes a wild ride.
(back to top) |
Image from Shoot 'Em Up
DVD cost: $25.99
Purchase:
BestPrices.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite?
Yes.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
"Baby Oliver" was cast
before he was even born. The producers chose a woman who was pregnant
with twin boys who would deliver about the time filming began so the
baby would genuinely be a newborn baby, as his character is.
Movie Quote: "Do
we really suck, or is this guy really that good!"
Other Actors/Actresses
from Shoot 'Em Up
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