Seven Psychopaths

Pretty insufferable and vacuous meta satire about the industry that leaves no lasting impression despite the quality cast (and adorable dogs). The fake shootout scene could be the worst thing I've seen in 2012, and I watched Ted. Honestly, though, I just hate this type of movie. I have the same reaction to songs about the record industry. Why are you writing about this? Who are you writing for? I don't care. Fuck off.

A disappointment from the writer of 'In Bruges'. The sad, simple truth is that the script, with its "wouldn't this be cool/crazy/funny" setups, is insanely uninspired. Matters aren't helped by the self-satisfied nature of all the constant winking at us ("remember, this is a piss-take on genre clichés") when referencing said clichés quickly grows just as tiresome. Matters are helped by the gameness of Farrell, Harrelson and Walken. (Okay, so maybe I'm mostly angry that Olga merely cameos.)

YES. A little slice of cinematic heaven. Witty, exciting, quotable, creatively energizing filmmaking. Olga Kurylenko's microscopic part is a little strange and, granted, there's a mild Pulp Fiction flavor to it in its vaguely anthology-esque structure, mix of violence and humor, and general love of movies, but it's not enough to make it anything less than bracingly original. Oh, and Christopher Walken is actually asked to ACT for the first time since, god, Catch Me If You Can, I guess?

If you don't like Sam Rockwell by now you are a complete asshole and deserve all the bad things you have coming to you.

Martin McDonagh's slick and fun screenplay is one of the best I've seen this year. It's not as tidy as In Bruges, but it's arguably funnier and reaches a point of self-referential bliss that I'm still not sure if the man knows how brilliant it is. Great to see Walken doing relevant work again, but the standout performance undoubtedly goes to Rockwell. The third act spins out a little, but this is still top quality cinema I can't recommend enough. Go see it and have a blast.