Friday, January 11, 2008

SHOOT 'EM UP

SHOOT 'EM UP DOESN'T BLOW BLANKS
Toss out everything you know about action movies and hang on tight... SHOOT 'EM UP is an original, high octane, fast paced shoot out that will excite, delight and have you on the edge of your seat through the entire movie. Our hero Mr. Smith (Clive Owen) is one of the most clever, smart and sexy reluctant heroes out there. He likes carrots and dislikes if not hates, everything else, especially bad manners. He is literally minding his own business when he witnesses an injustice and can't sit back and let it happen. By doing so, he inadvertently finds himself on the wrong side of just about everybody with the exception of his on and off again paramour, who plays the Madonna/whore part, Donna Quintano (smokin' Monica Bellucci) and the baby he helped deliver and escape from the bad guys. Who doesn't like a man who saves babies?! Well, a lot of them and we don't know who or what they want, but there is a lot of chasing, fighting and running before we get any answers and LOTS of gunfire (hence the name). There is undeniable chemistry between DQ and Smith. Who knew strained peas could act as an aphrodisiac? The unassuming leader of the bad guys is played so well, by Paul Giamatti, Mr. Hertz. He is the most vile, sick, perverted, nasty creep that has been portrayed so well by a seemingly dorky guy. "Guns don't kill people! But they sure help." His "bad man" work is constantly interrupted by cell phone calls from his wife and he plays the "yes, dear" guy as well. All the characters are multidimensional; the movie ends with no character left changed or newly discovered in some way... or dead. The action is a mix of many different styles that I can not put a word on it except for thrilling. This was a fun movie, albeit graphic and bloody; but it was also sexy, bold, smart and funny. It could have gone overboard, but instead pulled back just a hair and the finished product is fantastic.
BIG Pick: Most unusual action movie, with multidimensional characters. Must see!