Seven Psychopaths (2012)

**The following is a long form review that I originally wrote in 2012.**

The movie is incredibly convoluted, so it's hard to know what to say that definitely won't end up being a spoiler, so maybe it would be better if I just stuck to talking about the actors, as it's a crazy bunch of them for McDonagh to bring together.

Don't believe the trailer, and certainly don't believe the posters. _Seven Psychopaths_ has nothing to do with either of them.

Olga Kurylenko (_Max Payne, Quantum of Solace_) is shamefully under-used, but at least Martin McDonagh acknowledges that his film's female characters are not a focus point, and their weakness is his own failing (in a rather surreal way). I've adored her ever since I first saw her in _Hitman_, and was absolutely blown away by her _Centurion_ performance. Though she does practically nothing here, it's always fantastic to see her get more work (particularly in such a great film).

Woody Harrelson (_Natural Born Killers_, _Defendor_) has also been one I've kept my eye on for some time now. He's a believable psychopath, a strong actor, a funny dude and he has great presence. I've yet to be annoyed by him. Ever.

Sam Rockwell (_Choke, Iron Man 2_) has only recently gained my appreciation, but fuck is he great. I'd seen him and loved him in so many things before, but I never drew the connection. Now in _Seven Psychopaths_, I feel he has his strongest role to date, moreover, he is certainly the greatest character of the film.

Abbie Cornish (_Limitless, Sucker Punch_) is Australian. I'm Australian. So there's that... No, she's great, I just never really locked her in as a favourite like I do with so many others. Again, in _Seven Psychopaths_, that's not fault of her own. The script allows little room for women, which is unfortunate, but well handled. She gets much more screen time that Olga Kurylenko, but it would still have been good to get more of her.

Christopher Walken (_Pulp Fiction, Sleepy Hollow_) is the sort of guy that I'd watch a movie just 'cause he's in it, and I don't even know why.

Collin Farrell (_In Bruges, Fright Night_) meshes with me spectacularly poorly. It's hardly like I hate the guy or anything. He's a perfectly adequate actor with a great accent, I guess I just never got the hype. He manages to be the star of _Seven Psychopaths_, but have the show stolen out from under him by pretty much everyone else on screen.

It's rare that I give a film a rating of 80% or more, so if that means anything to you at all, then I implore thee, go watch _Seven Psychopaths_, it's well worth the price.

84%

-_Gimly_

<em>’Seven Psychopaths’</em> didn’t quite do it for me. It’s not far adrift from being a good movie, I just wasn’t able to connect to it in the end. It kinda has similar issues that I found with this director’s previous film, <em>’In Bruges’</em>; it’s better than that one, mind. The comedy is lacklustre and the cast don’t feel at their best.

Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken and Woody Harrelson being in the same flick is a recipe for success, so I am disappointed to say that I didn’t rate this one. The story has some solid moments and in summary is intriguing, though how it is all connected together with everything in-between and how it’s portrayed to us simply didn’t satisfy me unfortunately.

His early two films have surprisingly disappointed me, thankfully Martin McDonagh followed them up with two absolute crackers. I hope his upcoming fifth release follows suit.

“Marty” (Colin Farrell) has an idea for a great screenplay, but thus far has only come up with a title. Hungover, as usual, he’s chatting with his pal “Billy” (Sam Rockwell) who is just full of ideas for his psychopathic characters but hates to impose on his creatively constipated buddy. Now “Billy”, aside from having a vivid imagination, is also involved in a cunning wheeze with the cravat wearing “Hans” (Christopher Walken) that involves a bit of high-end schnauzer snaffling! Yep - they dognap! It’s when he turns up to visit the suitably bemused “Marty” with a perfectly pet-icured Shih Zhu and they take quite a perilous trip into the desert that perhaps his juices might flow again? That might be inspiration, but is more likely fear as the dog’s owner is the none-too-charming hoodlum “Charlie” (Woody Harrelson) who wants his mutt back preferably with a few pounds of flesh to feed it with, too! Now they have a surfeit of ideas for his book, but can they stay alive long enough to capitalise on them? This is my favourite outing for the boy from “Ballykissangel” as he looks good, natural and works really well with the scene-stealing Rockwell who has a great comedy timing; with the dapper and wily Walken and with an on-form Harrelson who mixes a faux-charm with shotgun menace entertainingly too. The structure of the story is cumulatively episodic and that allows for plenty of thuggery, bullets and escapades as we build to a denouement that is anything but predictable. Martin McDonagh knows how to combine elements of a thriller with comedy and he also manages to get some collaborative performances here from his cast as they poke fun at the genre whilst remaining entirely immersed in it’s excesses.

**Seven Psychopaths (2012)**

_Directed by Martin McDonagh_

This is pure fun, a twisted crime comedy with an all-star cast firing on all cylinders. Colin Farrell plays a struggling screenwriter named Marty trying to finish his script "Seven Psychopaths" while his friends Billy (Sam Rockwell) and Hans (Christopher Walken) run a dog-kidnapping scheme that goes sideways when they steal a gangster's (Woody Harrelson) beloved Shih Tzu. The plot is twisted in more ways than one, folding back on itself as the real-life chaos becomes material for Marty's screenplay.

The meta angle works here. McDonagh plays with the conventions of violent crime films while making one, commenting on the genre while delivering exactly what the genre promises: sharp dialogue, gleeful violence, eccentric characters. It's Tarantino viewed through the British dry humor lens, all the blood and wit but with that sardonic distance that keeps it from taking itself too seriously.

The cast is phenomenal. Rockwell is manic energy, Walken brings his particular brand of calm menace and unexpected tenderness, Harrelson is perfectly unhinged, and Tom Waits shows up because of course he does. Farrell grounds the chaos, playing the one sane person trying to make sense of the madness while realizing he's complicit in creating it.

This is a film that knows exactly what it is and enjoys every minute of it.