Seven Psychopaths

It wasn't easy to buy the ticket for this one. To be honest, it didn't seem very funny, and, with it's ensemble cast, not having that funny of a trailer seems like a death sentence in my mind. However, I really enjoyed writer/director Martin McDonagh's previous feature In Bruges. Seven Psychopaths tells the story of Marty, a Hollywood screenwriter played by Colin Farrell, who is trying to write a screenplay based on a title he has already sold. He reluctantly turns to his friend, Billy, played by Sam Rockwell, for help with the script, and gets caught up in Billy's criminal enterprise of stealing peoples dogs, and then returning them for the reward. When Billy steals the wrong dog, though, Billy, his business partner Hans (Christopher Walken), and Marty get on the wrong side of the dogs owner, Charlie, played by Woody Harrelson.

While Psychopaths doesn't live up to its predecessor, it still has its funny moments. I think part of my problem with it is that it is very self aware when it comes to the writing process, and tries to be clever about it, but just ends up being obvious.

Fright Night (2011)

Fright Night is another addition to the long list of remakes Hollywood has been putting out of horror movies that were beloved classics in the 70's and 80's. The difference, though, is that the plot of Fright Night is so simple that, if you just do a half way decent job, cast some decent actors, and have good effects, it's hard NOT to make an enjoyable movie. Luckily, they did that.

Kid is living next door to a vampire. Vampire is killing everyone around him, and targets him next when he figures it out. That's it. That's the whole plot. Director Craig Gillespie and lead actors Anton Yelchin (as Charlie Brewster, the high schooler tasked with killing the vampire) and Colin Farrell (as Jerry, the vampire), don't miss any beats and keep Fright Night lean and mean. Supporting actors like Toni Collette and Imogen Poots (as Charlie's Mom and girlfriend, respectively) and David Tennant (as "vampire hunter" Peter Vincent) give Charlie the back up he needs to fight Jerry.

Fright Night is fun. Gillespie doesn't try to make it something it's not, thankfully. This isn't the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake, where more effort was put into the visual aspect than the story or acting. This film knows EXACTLY what it is, and it knows its limits, and it doesn't mess around. It's a rather light, gory, fun horror film that you can't say too much bad about.

DVD - In Bruges

In Bruges is a hilarious, slightly dark, comedy by writer/director Martin McDonagh. It stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two hit men who are ordered to Bruges, in Belgium, by their boss after a hit goes slightly wrong. While their there, Farrell's character Ray reveals his inner pain over the mistake he made during the hit, and Gleeson's character Ken is ordered by their boss, Harry, to kill Ray for the mistake. When Ken refuses to do it, Harry (played by Ralph Fiennes), shows up in Bruges to take care of both of them.

In Bruges is a hilarious film about partnership, even when it is between hit men, love, finding beauty in the little things, and dealing with other people (especially midgets). I hate to say to much, because it feels like I would be giving away a lot. Gleeson is a great straight man to Farrell, and Ralph Fiennes is hilarious as the hot head boss who shoots first and asks questions later, even if its to his detriment. 

That's about it. That's all I feel I can really say without giving away too much. It's funny. It's a great movie. Go and see it.