Shoot ‘Em Up Review
Posted by Chad Webb on 09.10.2007
Clive Owen teaches us to eat our vegetables...the hard way.
Clive Owen: Smith
Paul Giamatti: Hertz
Monica Belluci: Donna Quintano
Stephen McHattie: Hammerson
Greg Bryk: Lone Man
Daniel Pilon: Senator Rutledge
Ramona Pringle: Baby’s Mother
Sidney Mende-Gibson, Lucas Mende-Gibson, Kaylyn Yellowlees: Baby Oliver
Written/Directed By: Michael Davis
Release Date: September 7, 2007
Running Time: 93 minutes
R for pervasive strong bloody violence, sexuality and some language.
Shoot ‘Em Up is a knock down, drag out, bloody, brutal, package of dynamite. This is an action movie, and then some, but it surpasses mediocre, goes beyond typical explosions and gun fire by supplying some of the most outlandishly awesome and off the wall sequences in years. When the hero can take out assassins, while simultaneously having sex with a red hot prostitute, you know you’re in for a bumpy, adrenaline overload of a ride. The envelope is not only pushed, it is ripped into shreds.
One night when a man named Smith (Clive Owen) is sitting on a bench, he witnesses a pregnant woman being chased by a group of thugs. He takes it upon himself to defend the woman, and he helps give birth to her baby, and shoots her umbilical cord off with a gun. Smith winds up having to care for the baby. By getting involved in others' affairs, Smith finds himself hunted down by Mr. Hertz (Paul Giamatti), and his clan of hired killers. Along the way, Smith recruits the assistance of kinky prostitute Donna Quintano (Monica Belluci) because after all, he only knows so much about babies. With Hertz hot on their trail, Smith and his sidekick try to piece the mystery of why they wanted the original mother dead, and look for the quickest path out of town.
The joke here is that Owen is portraying a version of James Bond in that he has near invincible qualities, a suave demeanor, and plenty of crafty lines. For those who might not remember, Owen was rumored to be up for the role of 007, but either he rejected it, or was denied it. Either way, he proves to have all the necessary attributes for such a franchise. The past and actual name of Smith is unknown, but his enigmatic history is what supplements his character as a whole. He might have been a black ops agent, but that is never cemented in stone. Owen is increasingly fun to watch here as he slides under tables using an oil slick, or shoots at a merry-go-round to keep the baby safe from oncoming fire. The last few years have been kind to Mr.Owen as he has contributed his versatile range to many solid pictures like Children of Men and Inside Man. He has an alluring lead personality that bolsters the entertainment.
Paul Giamatti delivers so many unforgettable one-liners that should be quoted just as much as those from Superbad. Giamatti is Hertz, a former F.B.I. profiler who is searching for the baby, because he wants to eliminate it. Hertz is constantly receiving phone calls from his wife, but he doesn’t let anything get to him. We know this because he explains why stress can lower the IQ. The glare in Giamatti’s eyes is both hysterical and creepy, as he never lets Owen steal the show in terms of acting. This is just one of his lines: “Do you know why a gun is better than a wife? Because a gun has a silencer.” Now on paper, this might not seem all that comical, but to hear Hertz say it is just priceless.
A carrot holds an enormous role in this film. Smith is eating them on a regular basis, and he uses them as a deadly weapon as well. For instance he shoves one right through the back of one unfortunate soul's head. Could this happen in real life? Doubtful, but who cares? One thing I can say for sure is that Shoot ‘Em Up’s goal was not practicality. Inserting a random object like a carrot tells the audience that anything can be cool if the right filmmaker utilizes it properly.
This is not a story that will have substantial plot or character development, but that is the point. This is an action flick. It is what the genre should be. Any director can employ crashes, shootouts, and explosions, but the key is inventiveness. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was intelligent enough to be aware of that. Shoot ‘Em Up grabs a little thunder from that exceptional offering, but quickly brings a storm that blows it out of the water. I could write pages on all the clever uses of guns, cars, and buildings. In one scene, Smith drops his gun in the toilet, so of course he dries it off under the blower while struggling with some dude at the same time. In yet another moment, a furious gun battle occurs with a neon sign in the middle. Smith fires at specific letters that send a nice message to his pursuers.
Writer and Director Michael Davis holds absolutely nothing back, and he throws in the kitchen sink for good measure. The torture sequences are incredibly graphic with bones crunching, and the script is filled with explicit dialogue and sexual innuendo for people of all ages. What pleased me was that the action stunts were never repetitious, and were timed perfectly. The viewer has just enough time to settle down, and then bam, Davis hurls us into overdrive for more mayhem. The chaos has such a jovial mood in its execution. Davis has crafted a non-stop action event, and could care less what any detractors have to say about it.
Shoot ‘Em Up might not be the most creative title in the world, but at least moviegoers understand what they are in store for. This makes Jason Statham’s efforts look like something from Larry the Cable Guy. Davis is heavy on the testosterone, and light on the drama, but that will satisfy the intended group of hardcore followers. The only time I thought Shoot ‘Em Up was too silly happened during an blatant use of CGI as Smith fights with some guys in mid air. What could have been totally dumb was transformed into brilliant just by some original use of a parachute. This is by far one of the best actioners in years because it goes over the edge with confidence. Any fan of the genre cannot be disappointed, and if you are, check your pulse. In closing, read this quote, and make sure to signal when changing lanes. “What’s the difference between a luxury car and a porcupine? A luxury car has the pricks on the inside.”
The 411: I just wish more people I know saw this. Everything about it was cool, and even though it is a feature film, it has all the great qualities that make a top B-movie. Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti are just plain excellent, and Michael Davis has blasted down the door of the action directors and said “step aside!” Michael Bay has nothing on him. I say this a lot, but please go see this film. It deserves a bigger audience. It is one I will be preordering on DVD.
