I usually don't care much for reviews of movies and stuff. Typically if I'm excited for a movie to come out, no review is going to keep me from wanting to see it. With the horrid reviews that come out of the Star Tribune every Friday, I really couldn't care less about what these critics think. That being said, I do religiously read the Onion's A.V. Club every week. It might be because I love the Onion as a 'newspaper', but something about the reviews really works for me.
Moving on to the actual substance of this post... Last weekend I went to go see Michael Davis film, Shoot 'em Up, starring Clive Owen. I went to the movie after having already read Tasha Robinson's review of it from the A.V. Club. I went into the theatre with fairly high hopes, though keeping in mind Robinson's final grade for the film: B-. Robinson cites the film's lack of a coherent plot as one of the reasons she gave it such a sub par score. She states that:
Shoot 'Em Up has a plot, but it's an illogical mess of coincidence and conspiracy, and it takes a distinct back seat to hilariously cartoony sequences.What she doesn't seem to realize is that the majority of the film's audience (Men aged 17-25) really couldn't care less about the film's plot, which involves an ailing senator, armies of hitmen, and fittingly carries a strong gun-control message. They, on the most part, are just looking for violence, gore, and sex (not necessarily in that order). Let me just say that if you're looking for those three things, this movie is definitely the place to look. From the opening scenes, in which Mr. Smith (Clive Owen) memorably dispatches and enemy with the carrot that had just been his dinner, Shoot 'em Up takes a frantic pace and never slows down. To Robinson's credit, she was able to somewhat accurately describe the action scenes that make up the film. Here she describes the film's tone:
The "Can't stop! Will die!" franticness closely recalls Crank, but the glossy special effects and polished aesthetic bring the action closer to Kung Fu Hustle or Tarantino's Kill Bill. Certainly Shoot 'Em Up has those films' flailing humor and desire to pander simultaneously to action-film fans and to people who mock action-film excess.Being well-versed in the films of Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill 1&2), this reference gave me high hopes for the film. And I was not disappointed, to say the least. Sure, it couldn't hold a candle to Tarantino's gory masterpieces, but something about the film seemed to fit right in with his movies.
Robinson also comments on Clive Owen's performance in this film. Though I don't want to discount the importance of a good acting performance, this film is not meant to win Oscars for any of the actors involved. The focus of the film is the violence, not the dramatic performances. Robinson notes that Owen seems to be recycling his performance from his last film, Children of Men. Having seen his last film, I really think it does both films a disservice in trying to compare them. Children of Men might possibly be one of the greatest Science Fiction movies I've ever seen, and Shoot 'em Up is, well, a mindless bloodbath.
All that being said, please don't think that I believe Shoot 'em Up to be a gem of modern film making. I just believe that for films like this, conventions such as plot and acting should be discounted in favor of their ability to let the audience turn off their brains and enjoy.
9 comments:
Ya I definitely agree, when I go to see a action/shooting movie I really don't care at all about the plot and just want to see things get blown up and people going crazy.
There are great movies that make cinematic history, and there are great movies that get most of their future exposure from an off-shoot of HBO. This seems to be the latter, I like that.
---Colin
Seems like a pretty good movie to watch for me. Of course I fit into the target age and sex that like to watch it. Based on your desciption of it I agree with you that it probably won't be remembered as one of the great movies of our era. None the less I am looking forward to going to see it.
The plot may be weak, but like you said, the target audience for the movie isn't looking for a meaningful story. As long as they get their fix of violence, gore, and sex, they will walk away with a sense of satisfaction.
I’m glad that you were able to contrast your opinions with the reviewer ones, and explained how you were able to keep your hopes up after the review/before the movie. You took each part of the critics review, and showed your own individual opinion along with an explanation for your feelings. You also mentioned why the movie was deliberately made the way it was, in order to target the action group. All of your opinions were strongly supported, and you made intelligent points.
gotta love the onion!
But I agree, if a movie has "if you blink you miss something" action then it doesn't always leave time for a complex plot, and as such one of the two must play second banana, I'm not saying no action films can have a plot and action, but... well, what you said pretty much sums up the works.
also, get some links to your blog!
Eric: Excellent work -- you're a talented writer, and your preference for The Onion A.V. Club speaks to your good taste. Anyway, I thought you did a nice job of dissecting the review, acknowledging some flaws in the movie and discounting others. I wonder, though -- is there a line somewhere between mindless action/gore and just outright offensiveness. I ask not because I'm a prude or anything, and I haven't seen this movie, I just wonder how far we can go with this by saying, "Well, it's not supposed to be any good." Food for thought (maybe). Like I said, nice work.
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