Movie Review: Seven Psychopaths

Seven Psychopaths

 

By Jeremy Cooper: Layout Editor

Director: Martin McDonagh

Starring: Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Woody Harrelson

Synopsis: Marty (Farrell) is a screenwriter working on a script entitled Seven Psychopaths, and struggling with writer’s block. His two eccentric friends, Billy (Rockwell), and Hans (Walken), are dog thieves who kidnap dogs and bring them back to the owners for money. Things go a bit pear-shaped when they kidnap a dog belonging to a psychotic gangster (Harrelson), who will mercilessly kill anyone involved in the theft. Now on the run, Marty and his friends get a lot of inspiration to write the script during the ordeal, if they survive that is.

Review: Seven Psychopaths is a surreal black comedy, often blurring the lines between reality and the fictional scenarios that the characters think up. In addition, it features some snarky commentary on the clichés and formulas found in most movies, while supplying some ridiculously over-the-top violence. Throw in some of the most memorable characters I’ve seen all year, and you get what is easily my favorite comedy of 2012. 

I love movies that make fun of movie formulas, and Martin McDonagh has an absolute blast doing so in this film. Almost every scene has some great dialogue and lines and even the smallest characters leave an impression on the viewer. Even when it gets dark and serious, like most black comedies do, it remains consistently engaging. 

The actors are also especially fantastic: Colin Farrell makes for a solid leading man, while the cast of psychopaths around him, particularly Sam Rockwell and Christopher Walken, are ace. The movie’s violence and dark sense of humor won’t appeal to everyone, particularly fans of more mainstream comedies, but this is a must see for movie lovers and people like me.

Consensus: Seven Psychopaths is dark, violent, original, and extremely funny. It’s not only my favorite comedy of this year, but also one my favorite movies of 2012.

Verdict: 9.3 out of 10