'Shoot 'Em Up' lacks killer plot, revolves around just killing
By Corinne Minard, Staff Writer
September 15, 2007 | 10:20 a.m.
Critic’s Rating: B+
Running Time: 80 minutes
MPAA Rating: R for pervasive strong bloody violence, sexuality and some language
Movie Genre: action/adventure/comedy/thriller
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Excessive gun violence is the main purpose of this movie. Something that resembles plot exists, but the plot’s main purpose is like that of a pan to a cake: It makes sure that the film has some shape to it. Mr. Smith (Clive Owen) bitterly saves a woman from getting killed and finds himself charged with the safety of her newborn infant. His only ally is prostitute DQ (Monica Bellucci) while crazed hitman Hertz (Paul Giamatti) chases after them with his seemingly never-ending stockpile of lackeys. At the same time, Smith fires his way through countless mercenaries to find out why these people are after the baby.
The plot, however, is truly unimportant. What makes “Shoot ‘Em Up” so sweet (and only so for the violence connoisseur) is its unapologetic carnage. The film is almost Tarantino-esque in its attention to gruesome content. Mr. Smith opens the movie by using a carrot in a deathly creative way. Every shot, every splat and every injured body part is seen in perfect clarity, as if to give treats to those that truly love a bloody picture.
The movie is over-the-top at the best of times, but the movie's sense of humor about every scene makes it work. Director and writer Michael Davis never takes the film too seriously, instead taking all action movie clichés and making them fun again. Smith has a witty one-liner for every bullet, and Hertz has the intelligence to verbally keep up with him. Davis makes the movie into eye candy that is fun to watch, and he doesn't create anything too heavy to swallow. The themes of fatherhood and loss flow throughout the film, but they are never overly emphasized and are there more to keep the movie from being just about guns.
The icing of the cake, and the part that makes the movie truly enjoyable, belongs to Giamatti and Owen. Lines that would have otherwise been lame are instead injected with humor and life, thanks to the two talented actors. They’re having fun playing these insane, gun-toting individuals. This comes through in every scene and makes it fun for people that enjoy moments when stuff isn’t being blown up.
Bellucci feels like the decorative ornament on top of the cake, though. She’s pretty to look at, but the audience is left wondering what to do with her. While Bellucci is perfectly fine as an actress, her part seems to only exist to care for the baby and have sex with Smith. Her emotional scene of the film comes off as awkward and uncomfortable instead of poignant. It doesn’t help that soon afterward, DQ has a sex scene with Smith while he’s shooting mercenaries. The character seems to just exist so that there’s someone else to look at other then Owen.
The violence does get tedious for those that don’t live for it. Only so many places exist for the body to get shot. A fight sequence toward the end that occurs after the characters jump out of an airplane is well choreographed, but the obviousness of the use of a green screen is difficult to ignore. These and several other imperfections add bitterness to the otherwise violent sweetness of the movie.
“Shoot ‘Em Up” doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what the title says it to be. For those that love violence, the movie is a definite treat. Those that don’t shouldn’t even give it a try.
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To read about more violence-worshipping films, read Speakeasy’s review of "Grindhouse" at http://www.speakeasymag.com/entertainment/moviestv/2007/apr/19/grindhouse-shivers-and-shakes-sleaze.