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.

I found this to be a much stronger effort than Martin McDonagh's first full-length feature, In Bruges, not least in terms of its intelligence. The plot is intricate without becoming excessively complicated and any possible confusion that might arise is swiftly dispelled through a variety of knowing nudges. Rather than feeling patronising, these often actually add to the sense that you're in on the joke, which draws you into the crazy world of Seven Psychopaths ever further. 

The comparison that immediately came to mind for me was Shane Black's excellent Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Not in terms of the scenario, the characters, or even the structure, more just the feel of it. I realise this is a very subjective thing, but for me the film oozes cool in much the same way and it's borderline farcical without ever crossing that line. It stays grounded through Farrell's Marty who ends up being the voice of reason for the most part, his view on things echoing what you might expect those of the audience to be. 

There's nothing too unpredictable as far as the cast is concerned, and you will recognise the character types that each actor brings to the table. They may not step outside of their comfort zone too much, but the end result is a lot of great performers doing what they do best. Sam Rockwell in particular ups the ante as the film progresses becoming more and more unstable, his off-kilter monologues growing increasingly oddball and hilarious, playing the buffoon to perfection.

Though the film is billed as a comedy, that doesn't really do it justice and there is much more to take away from it than laughs. There are some very stirring scenes, moving even, and these add much to the depth on offer. As well as being a very entertaining ride, a certain amount of commentary on the mores of popular film is evident, but it's more of a gentle ribbing than mockery or disdain and the tone remains amiable throughout.

Seven Psychopaths isn't perfect by any means, but I can only hope that we will be seeing more of McDonagh's work in the future as it is superbly written and the promise of more, particularly considering the improvement this represents over In Bruges, would have me rushing to see it. 

The Verdict:

7.5/10
A well written comedy with depth that is cool as they come. Certainly one I will be looking to add to my personal collection.