Oct 13: Seven Psychopaths

"A struggling screenwriter inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends kidnap a gangster's beloved Shih Tzu."

Directed by: Martin McDonagh, Rated: R, 109 minutes

Seven Psychopaths is a very smart film. The movie jumps around, teasing your emotions, blending genres, and going places you'd never expect. It's a movie that's fully aware of itself as a movie and in doing so, leaves you floored with what happens. I honestly can say I've never seen anything like it and have to contribute the success of the script to the incredible writer/director Martin McDonagh, who also made one of my favorite movies of all time, In Bruges. Seven Psychopaths is the perfect followup, just much bigger.

I'll always have a place in my heart for Ray and Ken, though. 

The film follows Marty (Colin Farrell), a troubled screenwriter that can't find inspiration for his newest screenplay. All he has is a title- Seven Psychopaths. He doesn't even know where to begin, so he starts making a list of the psychopaths not even knowing where the characters will go themselves. His best friend, Billy (Sam Rockwell), is an aspiring actor and part-time dog-napper. Him, along with Hans (Christopher Walken) steal dogs from people, only to return them once a reward has been posted. After they steal the shih tzu belonging to Charlie Costello (Woody Harrelson), things get very violent and deadly. Retreating to the deserts outside Los Angeles, the three work on the screenplay together while coming up with a plan to avoid Costello, his gang, and the wrath he'll bestow on those who took his beloved dog. 

These three are completely different from each other, but fit so damn well together. 

7Psychos is a movie you can't predict. It's ever-changing and, just when you think you have an idea of where it's going, it turns the tables and heads in the completely opposite direction. The pacing is just as unpredictable, as you'll have slower moments that are only accentuated soon after with something crazy or very dramatic. The plot makes you vulnerable and it's because of this that the film is such a surprise. The acting is also superb. Sam Rockwell easily steals the show as Billy, and I honestly believe he deserves a best supporting Actor nomination for his performance. He's crazy, off-the-wall, self-referencing, and so damn funny you can't help but love him even if some of what he does isn't what you'd usually cheer for. Christopher Walken gives his best performance in years, being his usual self while adding in good doses of both humor and tragedy, the latter being something more unexpected from the eerie legend. With Farrell, you'd assume he'd get lost in the shuffle but he holds his own. He's the alcoholic moral heart of the story and he's actually really believable as a writer, something I didn't see coming from the part-time actor, part-time stud. Of course, Woody Harrelson is amazing as Charlie. The role was made for him. He's a true psychopath who has a heart of gold for his little dog, and he'll do anything (ANYTHING) to get it back. 

Loves his pooch. Will murder you without hesitation. 

Seven Psychopaths is one of the best films of the year, and one of the smartest movies about the movie-making process since 2002's Adaptation. It's a hilarious ride through LA with an equally hilarious (and very colorful) cast of characters that all bring their own "uniqueness" to the film. I would highly recommend seeing this movie, buying it, referencing it, and loving it until the day you die. It's a rare movie that doesn't tailor to any specific genre or demographic and the surprises it packs are far from anything you'd expect. The casting is perfect and each actor does a superb part in each of their roles,   with all three going off in their own directions, but still coming together as a set of believable friends and a criminal chasing them down. Seven Psychopaths deserves to be seen. It's original, it's smart, it's hilarious, and it has more than enough heart to carry it to great places. I never thought McDonagh could top In Bruges but with Seven Psychopaths, he does it. Bravo, Marty. Bravo.

The Good:
a smart script that's completely aware of itself, blending all sorts of everything into one glorious little masterpiece
The Better:
never knowing where the movie is heading and being genuinely surprised with a large part of what plays out
The Best:
the performances from everyone involved but a big mention of Sam Rockwell, my favorite actor working today, delivering his best performance to date
The Oscar Chances:
- Best Original Screenplay, Marin McDonagh
- Best Supporting Actor, Sam Rockwell

Overall: 9.4/10

Trailer:

Seven Psychopaths Trailer

As you know, I usually include trailers in my The Trailer Park feature I run here and there. However, I feel this one particular trailer needs its own post. Not only is Seven Psychopaths director Martin McDonagh's follow-up to In Bruges, one of my favorite movies of all time, but the cast features pretty much every single one of my favorite underrated and under-used actors I mention on occasion. 

The cast features Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Woodly Harrelson, Christopher Walken, Tom Waits, among other familiar faces. That alone should sell you on the film but then knowing it's made by the guy behind In Bruges makes this movie a must watch already.

The plot synopsis, per IMDB reads:
"The comedy Seven Psychopaths follows a struggling screenwriter (Colin Farrell) who inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends (Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell) kidnap a gangster's (Woody Harrelson) beloved Shih Tzu."

Here's the trailer and enjoy the hell out of it like I did. October can't come soon enough.