Comments on: Djake Reviews Two Surprisingly Violent “Comedies”

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:46:18 +0000

I loved The Guard, but I am a sucker for Gleeson and Irish films in general. I didn’t really notice the lack of extras but perhaps it’s because they were in a very rural part of Ireland? Anyway, it’s strange to show an Irish pub with no people in it…

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:50:30 +0000

Hey Djake,
I watched Seven Psychopaths with my friends last night, and while I missed some of the witty banter due to the fact that they’re loud and my tv isn’t, I really liked it, especially as a screenwriter. While some of it became too obvious since EVERYTHING was self-referential, it’s still a good lesson in foreshadowing, plant/payoff, etc…
I really think the actors helped pull this one off. Colin Ferrell’s “you’re-a-dipshit” stares and Sam Rockwell’s quirky emotional 180s sold it for me. Especially the scene where Rockwell is acting out his screenplay around the campfire. Normally, something like this would get old if someone was just building up to their emotional climax through dialogue, but since he stumbled through it and gave it a life as though he were figuring it out as he goes? Awesome. Great intricacies in the acting.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:45:04 +0000

Yeah. I really couldn’t tell you what it was about, either, and it really bothered me that there were almost no extras in the entire movie. I swear. In a bar… where is everyone? Walking around town… where is everyone? For some reason it was extremely unsettling, and then, well… I remember some plot holes were present, but I couldn’t tell you what they were anymore. Oh well.

By: Deuce

Deuce — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 03:36:13 +0000

Oh, carrying a bunny around makes perfect sense. Thanks!

By: Djake

Djake — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 02:29:27 +0000

Maybe underrated was a bad choice of words. I do remember it not staying in theaters for very long when it came out though. It was underexposed too.

And yes, Dustin, Tom Waits is in fact carrying a bunny. He carries it the entire movie.

By: Djake

Djake — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 02:25:44 +0000

I did see The Guard. I remember liking it but I honestly can’t remember what happened in it. I always like Brendan Gleeson so I think I liked it mostly for him.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 04:29:41 +0000

Yeah, I don’t think it was underrated (it was also nominated for some osacrs and won a lot of other awards), but I’d say it was underexposed, especially considering some of the talent it had.

By: Deuce

Deuce — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 03:17:55 +0000

I don’t think In Bruges is as underrated as you may think. Everyone I’ve talked to who has seen it really enjoyed it. I really need to see it again because I didn’t like it as much as all of those people. I’m really starting to think I’m not as cool as I previously thought… It also has a 8.0 on imdb.com. That’s almost Top 250 material!

Is Tom Waits holding a rabbit? I’ve got to see this flick!

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:04:20 +0000

I also thought In Bruges was excellent, so I’ll have to check out this (and the Norwegian one).

Also speaking of the McDonaugh clan, I don’t suppose anyone’s checked out the play (written or performed) “Lieutenant of Inishmore” by Martin McDonaugh? It’s set in Ireland, and it’s really good (and also violent and disturbing). I think I have a copy or even two in Colorado I can loan out if anyone’s ever interested. Strangely enough, I first read it in a class about Irish independence as depicted through books, movies, and music… and the class was in Germany.

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:51:05 +0000

I’ll have to check both of those out. In Bruges is a favorite in my house (we even gave my dog a nickname based off it) so I really wanted to see Seven Psychopaths, but I think, like you, I let the trailer turn me away a little bit. But it sounds like it is pretty good, so I might have to check it out.
Speaking of the McDonaughs, did you ever see The Guard, which was written and directed by John Michael McDonaugh, Martin’s brother? It kept getting amazing reviews and I like Martin’s work, so I rented it (from a library… a first!) and thought it was one of the biggest pieces of crap I’d seen in a long time. I won’t go into a full review here, but if you had seen it and wanted to discuss it, I’d be down. Maybe there was something that I just didn’t get…