Shoot ‘em up
Is exaggeration inherently funny? Your answer to that question probably determines in large part whether Shoot ‘em up, in which Clive Owen literally shoots over a hundred ‘them’s up, will work for you. Me? Exaggeration is one of my favorite tricks, and I had fun with the movie.It did become rather repetitive in the end, and I could have done without Monica Belluci the italian lactating hooker. Interestingly enough, Clive Owen plays it straight, and so does Paul Giamatti: his character overacts, but Giamatti resists the urge to winkat us. I’m not entirely certain it was the right decision, and I can’t really recommend the film, but I’m not sorry I watched it – possibly the weakest positive judgment you can give a movie, but there you have it.
Gone Baby Gone
In this assured debut from Ben Aflleck, it was mostly his brother who impressed me – though I wouldn’t mind if he articulated a smidgen more. The story twisted and turned more than I expected, all the way to an ending that leaves you uncertain about how to feel. It isn’t sad, perse, but uplifting isn’t it, either. I understand the fuss about Amy Ryan, but still think Cate Blanchett deserves the top prize. The biggest achievement of this film is in how it captures a certain mood in a certain place, and while I wouldn’t call it a masterpiece or even original, it’s worth two hours of your time.
