Set in Boston in 1978, a meeting in a deserted warehouse between two gangs turns into a shootout and a game of survival. Nine people with terrible aim shoot at concrete without expressing emotion for 90 minutes. You might call this an arthaus gore shootout but with too much john Denver. Mind-numbingly boring cinematography and editing, and as far as I can tell the only lens they used was mid-century misogyny. Great cast, but bad enough to be a cult classic in 10 years maybe? After seeing a rated 1(!!) review on the main page of this movie, i was forced to bring out the big guns and shot way my review ( get it? )<br/><br/>It took me a little while to completely digest Ben Wheatley's Free Fire. I felt something was off. I couldn't figure out what it was. Then, it hit me like a bullet. It's the action. I could replay scene after scene in my head. I knew what was going on. It should be total chaos. That's what I'm used to seeing in crazy action movies. If you have an hour + long gunfight, there should be disorganization. Bullet fly. People die. That's what we are trained to expect. Yes, the bullets fly. Yes, people die. But, it's done in a Ben Wheatley special kind of way. A lot of credit should be given to his script writing partner wife, Amy Jump for some very memorable dialogue, and DoP, Laurie Rose for organizing the most organized 65 minute gunfight you will ever see. <br/><br/>The handgun usage makes the gun play interesting, because it takes out the "spray and pray" concept of high powered assault rifles weapons usage. I'm sure Wheatley, Jump and Rose could track every single bullet shot. (We need that on a commentary, please!) The one location standoff action movie is one of my favorite sub genres for action movies. The warehouse itself is a character. It's full of traps and other surprises. There's deceit, deception, trickery and humor all mixed together to make for an unique action experience. Plus, you gotta love how it's the Boston Boys who cause all the trouble. <br/><br/>I want to watch Free Fire again to laugh at the stupidity of every single character. Your enjoyment factor might be determined by how much you enjoy the movie when the bullets aren't flying. These characters ain't the sharpest tools in the shed, but they bring the laughs and a couple of the kills are absolutely fabulous. Attention action lovers: Get yo ass to the movies, and check this one out!! There’s something lacking, a touch of the bizarre or the perverse, with just one particularly nasty death to serve as a reminder that you’re watching a Ben Wheatley film.
Maralber replied
372 weeks ago