“MEN ARE IDIOTS“
Director: Ben Wheatley
Writer: Amy JumpBen Wheatley
Language : English
Year: 2017
Starring:
Sharlto Copley, Brie Larson, Armie Hammer, Enzo Cilenti, Sam Riley, Michael Smiley, Cillian Murphy, Babou Ceesay, Noah Taylor, Jack Reynor, Patrick Bergin.
Plot:
ustine (Brie Larson) has brokered a meeting in a deserted warehouse between two Irishmen and a gang led by Vernon (Sharlto Copley) and Ord (Armie Hammer), who are selling them a stash of guns. But when shots are fired during the handover, complete pandemonium ensues, with everyone at the scene suddenly thrust into a heart-stopping game of survival.
Set in Boston in 1978, an arms deal is going down in a deserted warehouse. Brokered by Justine (Brie Larson, “Room”) an IRA team headed by Frank (Michael Smiley, “The World’s End”) with his business guy Chris (Cillian Murphy, “Inception”, “Batman Begins”) are on the buying side. As ‘roadies’ they’ve brought with them a couple of crack- head friends Stevo (Sam Riley, “Brighton Rock”, “Maleficent”) and Bernie (Enzo Cilenti, “The Martian”) who are far from stable.
On the selling side is South African dealer and “international a-hole” Vern (Sharlto Copley, “Elysium”), his suave and wisecracking protector Ord (Arnie Hammer, “The Man From Uncle”) and Vern’s right hand man Martin (Babou Ceesay, “Eye in the Sky”). What connects all of these individuals is that no-one likes or trusts anyone else.
Unfortunately, one of Vern’s van drivers is John Denver-lover Harry, who has very recent personal history with Stevo. The fuse is lit, and when the two meet chaos ensues: in the words of Anchorman’s Ron Burgundy, “That escalated quickly”!
And, for a 90 minute film, that’s basically it. If you think after viewing the trailer “there must be more to the film than this”…. you’re wrong!. However, what there is of it is enormously entertaining.
Played ostensibly for laughs, with very very black humour and an F-word and a gunshot in every other sentence, some of the characters – notably those played by Sharlto Copley, Armie Hammer and Brie Larson – have some hilarious dialogue.
The star turn for me though was Jack Treynor who was just so impressive as the ‘lost at sea’ brother in the delightful “Sing Street” and here delivers a stand-out performance as another brother on a mission… this time a mission of vengeance.
You are waiting throughout the film for the inevitable showdown between Harry and Stevo – – and when it comes it is both bloody and memorable.
But overall, my evaluation is now done and I am rooting on the side of it being a brash and exhilarating minor masterpiece. Yes, it’s one- dimensional.
Yes, it is virtually impossible to feel any empathy with any of the characters, as they are all universally loathsome. But it’s a movie whose flaws are forgivable based on the characterisation and the cracking good script by long-term collaborators Ben Wheatley and Amy Jump.
Plus:
1. Actors Performance
2. Shootout Sequence
3. Black Comedy
4. 70’s Soundtrack
Minus:
1. One dimensional character
2. Entire film in Trailer
3. Few Drag and Boring Scene
Overall:
90 minutes fun action comedy peppered with hilarious characters and plenty of quips.
Note: Streaming in Netflix.
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