Shoot 'Em Up (2007)

Jim H · September 10, 2007, 11:05:15 PM

I think a great many people on this forum will appreciate Shoot 'Em Up, the film currently in theatres starring Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti.

It's got the right qualities: a hideously sleazy performance by Giamatti, a deliberately trite plot, numerous over-the-top gun battles and set pieces, gun gags, a largely pointless sex scene/gun battle with Monica Belluci, and a politically slanted message about gun control - only this time in favor of it (which comes across as a jab at 80s action movies political themes more than anything - it's too silly to be taken seriously).

I enjoyed it. I think many of you will too.

Torgo · September 11, 2007, 10:17:16 PM

I tried to see this flick this past weekend but didn't get around to it. Looks like a lot of fun and reminds of Crank in some respects in terms of it's tone and style.

Any movie where Paul Giamatti plays the villain gets a big thumbs up from me.

I'll be seeing it hopefully this upcoming weekend.

Mofo Rising · September 11, 2007, 11:30:40 PM

I loved Shoot 'Em Up. It's absolutely ridiculous from start to finish.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the soundtrack. Any movie that has a shoot out to Motorhead's "Ace of Spades" is alright in my book.

Jim H · September 12, 2007, 11:19:53 AM

Quote from: Mofo Rising on September 11, 2007, 11:30:40 PM
I loved Shoot 'Em Up. It's absolutely ridiculous from start to finish.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the soundtrack. Any movie that has a shoot out to Motorhead's "Ace of Spades" is alright in my book.

While I thought Ace of Spades worked, I thought some of the other music was awful (like in the opening scene). Ah well.

Mr_Vindictive · September 12, 2007, 01:53:50 PM

I'm dying to see this film. It looks like it's a John Woo film if John Woo were on a ton of drugs. My wife is sold on the film only because of Clive Owen being in it.

A shootout to Ace Of Spades? Kick Start My Heart was playing over the red-band trailer. Sounds like some great music there.

Mofo Rising · September 13, 2007, 12:33:45 AM

Quote from: Jim H on September 12, 2007, 11:19:53 AM
Quote from: Mofo Rising on September 11, 2007, 11:30:40 PM
I loved Shoot 'Em Up. It's absolutely ridiculous from start to finish.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the soundtrack. Any movie that has a shoot out to Motorhead's "Ace of Spades" is alright in my book.

While I thought Ace of Spades worked, I thought some of the other music was awful (like in the opening scene). Ah well.

Not a big Nirvana fan? It's funny, because that was the scene that convinced me that I was in good hands with this movie. As you say, ah well.

Actually after the fantastic opening, I thought the filmed slowed down for a while. Luckily it picked up again and went right back to ridiculous gunfights.

Also I saw it with a friend of mine who is very "conservative" (his description), and his comment after the movie was "I'm surprised Michael Moore didn't produce that movie." Which just goes to show any political message in the movie is ridiculous as well.

Trevor · September 13, 2007, 03:58:07 AM

The film hasn't gone on release in SA yet, but the posters are out: my favourite is the one that features Clive Owen and the "I'm a British nanny and I'm dangerous" payoff line. I will go see this on the strength of that poster alone.

HappyGilmore · September 13, 2007, 10:46:51 AM

I don't feel the need to see this in theaters, but may check the dvd out. Paul Giamatti is generally good in most of his movies.

Torgo · September 13, 2007, 01:41:55 PM

I find it most interesting that Paul Giammati is going to be starring in the sequel to Bubba Ho-Tep even though Bruce Campbell isn't reprising the Elvis role due to creative differences with Don Coscarelli.

Jim H · September 14, 2007, 05:22:46 PM

Quote from: Skaboi on September 12, 2007, 01:53:50 PM
I'm dying to see this film. It looks like it's a John Woo film if John Woo were on a ton of drugs. My wife is sold on the film only because of Clive Owen being in it.

A shootout to Ace Of Spades? Kick Start My Heart was playing over the red-band trailer. Sounds like some great music there.

It does have some John Woo references. The big one, of course, is a shootout with the lead character holding onto a baby. Don't expect the action scenes to be as masterfully shot, edited or choreographed though... Shoot 'Em Up's gunbattles are quite entertaining, but they're shot a little haphazardly at times and some of the editing is a little too scattered and quick. My biggest complaint is not enough establishing shots in some cases, and too many "close up of guy firing, cut to guy falling" type of things.

And no, it doesn't quite top some of the more crazy HK flicks. I.E., Pom Pom and Hot Hot. Or one sequence in Black Panther Warriors, where a guy shoots his own bullet at one point to change its course (no, it doesn't make any more sense in the movie itself). But it's up there.

AnubisVonMojo · September 14, 2007, 06:56:39 PM

Saw it with the fiancee today and we had a good time. She liked it moreso than I did, but my biggest problem was with the fact that 90% of Owen's lines are one-liners. I know it's intended to be so to keep up with the parody of action flicks, but it really wore on my patience after a while... now I know how my girlfriend feels spending every night with me.

Also, as Jim just mentioned, the editing could've used a definite spit and polish, but the soundtrack choices were great and the last 20 or so minutes of the movie redeemed my faith in the flick that had petered out around the 35 minute mark before bringing it back. Not a bad flick. Never thought I'd enjoy "Kick Start My Heart" in any context, so go figure!

KYGOTC · September 14, 2007, 10:25:37 PM

OOOO OOOO!!! I wanna see this SOOO BAAAD!! It looks flippin HILARIOUS!! And CLIVE OWEN?! How can one pass THAT up?!

I heard that in one scene, Owen is delivering a baby in a car and.....get this, he SHOOTS THE AMBIBLICAL CORD OFF!! HAW HAW HAW HAW!!! What a KNEE SLAPPER!!

wtffilm · September 16, 2007, 02:44:35 PM

It doesn't take place in a car, but the rest of the info is spot-on.

I, for one, thought it was fantastic (aside from the totally unecessary but blessedly brief Giamatti-groping-a-dead-woman scene). While this will be getting a larger review on my site proper, my initial opinions on it are here:

http://capsulereviews.blogspot.com/2007/09/shoot-em-up-2007-michael-davis.html

Kindest regards,

Kevin P.
http://www.wtf-film.com

BTM · October 07, 2007, 05:37:59 PM

Death by carrot!

Oldskool138 · January 05, 2008, 10:33:17 PM

Wow! I just watched this movie tonight! I wish I had caught it on the big screen. The action sequences are some of the best I've seen. It was one of those movies that met my expectations. It's a lot of fun. Not realistic but it never pretends to be.

It's a good movie to watch with a group of friends who want to laugh and turn their brains off. And you know what? Paul Giamatti manages to turn in a great performance as the villain in this one. (Not that I was really all that surprised since the guy is one of the best character actors working today). This director needs to be involved in the Max Payne movie!

Quentin Tarantino could (re)learn a thing or two about how to make a hard-boiled noir action film.