Shoot 'Em Up

Starring: Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, Monica Bellucci
Directed by: Michael Davis
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
2007

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A man (Clive Owen) delivers a baby and then must protect it from a villain (Paul Giamatti) and his henchmen, who are determined to kill it.

Review:

Tim: This is an over-the-top, absolutely ridiculous movie. Luckily, this is exactly what it intended to be. You will have to suspend your belief, but fortunately, the film is so amazingly over-the-top that it somehow works.

If you're looking for unrealistic but amazing action scenes, this is your movie. It takes the part of action movies we all love (the indestructible, wildly intelligent hero) and greatly ups the ante. Clive Owen makes a perfect action hero, and he plays the part with enough intelligent and seriousness while maintaining the glimmer in his eye letting you know the absurdity of the whole thing. He's so much fun to watch. I love the scenes with him eating carrots, and all the hilarious one-liners. Paul Giamatti makes a terrific villain, hamming it up extraordinarily well. He is clearly having fun with the role. I never really got the appeal of Monica Bellucci, and I certainly don't see it here. I felt she added nothing to the film.

Prepare yourself for some truly great action scenes. By letting go of most of the grip on reality, this frees the film up to put some action sequences in place that otherwise could never be filmed. This is not a movie grounded in reality, however, and that allows it to be something very different, and very entertaining. Shoot 'Em Up does occasionally cross the line, but mostly, this is a movie that surpasses what it probably should have been. You will find yourself enjoying it, despite any preconceived notions you may have. Sit back, suspend reality, and enjoy the ride.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Children of Men, Sin City, Inside Man