See the name of a movie and sometimes it just may tell you a bit about the story. Never in film history has the title of a film been so apropos to what's about to unfold than in Michael Davis' Shoot'em Up. Expect and receive one barrage of carnage all done up to perfection in this Alliance Atlantis epic now drawing long line-ups at Scotiabank Theatre, Colossus, Empire Studio 12 and Famous Players Silver City cites around B.C.
Nonstop action comes fast and furious from the opening frame as somewhere in some big U.S. city are a lot of unhappy people. By accident an "average" bloke comes across a woman in distress and the race is on as the bodies begin to fly. Fast and furious pacing sees Mr. Smith do all he can to elude the bad guys who keep on coming just like Neo encountered with "his" Mr. Smith in The Matrix. Crude and cunning is Mr. Smith's chief nemesis, Mr. Hertz, a mild-mannered married man with the hots for doing bad things to his enemies.
Writer and director Davis miraculously came up with a novel story line that becomes one long chase scene. Pretend for a minute you are watching The Bourne Ultimatum only lace it up with a run on bullets to get the drift. Only the action here is so over the top you can't help but get caught up in all the mayhem. Forget the semblance of a plot as each frame here opens up to more slick stunts and hilarious one-liners as good as any classic Arnold, Sly or 007 muttering.
Handsome Clive Owen (Croupier) shows why he was short-listed to be the next James Bond with an outstanding rendering of a good Samaritan pushed over the edge to fight for the good guys, or in this case an innocent woman. Boy, any army or government or person in distress would love to have this Mr. Smith on its side! Comic turned serious actor Paul Giamatti (Sideways) is at his natty best as the acid-tongued hotheaded Mr. Hertz, a criminal with getting even on his mind. Sexy sizzle here is brought to the fore by Monica Belluci (The Matrix Revolutions) who provides suitable "down time" when she's also not being pursued by what looks like an army of evil.
Non-stop action that never lets up, crazy stunts that look believable and have likely never been done before, sly humour and a poke a stick in your eye attitude make Shoot'em Up a dream movie for action fans. Should Daniel Craig ever leave the 007 role the producers at Eon have their next sure thing.
Read more reviews by Robert at www.moviereviewssite.com
Shoot'em Up! (14A) * * * *
|
