Seven Psychopaths
Starring: Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Woody Harrelson, Abbie Cornish
Directed By Martin McDonagh
Rated: R
Run Time: 109 mins
Genre: Comedy/ Crime
Opens October 12th
By Lisa Minzey of The Reel Critic.com
Hey Phoenix Film Fans, this week we screened the dark comedy Seven Psychopaths, starring Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken and Woody Harrelson. Fun fact about the film, Mickey Rourke was originally cast as Charlie and later replaced by Woody Harrelson after reported conflict with one of the producers. Keep an eye out for Rourke though as the name pops up later in the graveyard scene.
Screenwriter Marty Faranan (Colin Ferrell) have been working on a new script, but all he has been able to come up with is the title – Seven Psychopaths. He wants to write a piece that is a crime thriller but has elements of peace and love. Marty’s best friend, Actor Billy Bickle (Sam Rockwell), has been begging Marty to work with him on the script. He even gives him the inspiration for the first psychopath, a serial killer who kills high ranking mafia members, leaving a calling card of the Jack of Diamonds. Billy does not have much going on, as he is out of work and is a cohort of a local dog kidnapping scheme with Hans (Christopher Walken). Billy and Hans go around kidnapping dogs, keep them for a few days and then return the dogs when their owners offer up a reward. When Billy nabs local gangster Charlie Costello’s beloved Shih Tzu Bonnie, all bets are off. Charlie will not rest until his dog is found, killing anyone that gets on his way.
When Marty is kicked out of his home he shares with girlfriend Kaya (Abbie Cornish) Billy knows that all Marty needs is some inspiration and to quit drinking if he is ever to finish his script. Only acting out of friendly concern and guidance to help Marty focus, Billy places an ad in the local paper looking for Psychopaths. This way Marty can probe these unusual characters for insight and material.
While Marty is interviewing a possible psychopath, Billy is running around with Charlie’s girlfriend. Charlie gets a lead on where Bonnie may be which leads him to Hans’s sick wife,Myra (Linda Bright Clay). Showing that he is deadly serious about getting his dog back, Myra is executed at the hand of Charlie, leaving Hans in a strangely calm state.
Knowing that they would be next, Billy, Marty and Hans take off to the desert to figure out their next move and work on the script. Will Charlie find the 3 men and be reunited with his beloved Bonnie? Will Marty ever finish his script or will Charlie kill them all? Who are Psychopath #1 and #7 real identities?
Seven Psychopaths is a wickedly smart, brutally violent, dark comedy. What is so refreshing about this film that it is brutally honest in its message; its unapologetic in the choice of words used; politically incorrect way that women are portrayed; the amount of gratuitous violence and totally transparent on the direction of the story. It is like an indirect insight of a psychopath’s mind (or a real bad screenplay) in the way the story flows, the way violence is justified, glorified and executed. The castings of the 4 lead male roles were perfect in their respective roles, with stand out performances by Walking and Rockwell. Check out Seven Psychopaths when it opens in theaters starting Friday October 12, 2012.
