“Shoot 'em Up” (2007)
A crazier, distant cousin of John Wick with just as high of a body count but the added bonus of two instances of death by vegetable. Dripping with irony and wearing its action movie (and cartoon) influences proudly on its sleeve it definitely lives up to its name.
Paul Giamatti is hamming it up something fierce as the villain and Clive Owen’s gruff, monotone delivery of every single line has never been more appropriate. Monica Bellucci plays a pregnant Italian hooker, so, enough said. Everybody’s in on the joke and from start to finish this film has so much fun. Just watch the background bad guy’s reaction when Giamatti wipes his bloody hand on his coat.
There are many memorable scenes (a gun fight DURING a sex scene!) blink and you’ll miss it visual jokes and one liners that it’s probably going to be just as good on the second viewing.
The shoot-out set to “Ace of Spades” is a standout but everything’s done with so much skill and wit there’s never a dull moment. And just when you think it has nowhere else to go we get a bonkers parachuting gun battle.
I could go on but it’s pretty obvious I liked it, and if you like action movies I’m sure you’ll like it too.
Sample dialogue:
“Find me every wet nurse, lactating hooker and mammary-on-tap in the city.”
“Looking at those dog hairs on your trousers I’d say ol’ duchess took a liking to you.”
It’s a real shame this flopped in theatres, I think it’s a genuine classic of the genre. Beautiful, violent insanity.
I give it 4 and a half carrots out of 5.