Seven Psychopaths

Everyone loves movies about psychopaths. They make for great stories. Psycho, American Psycho, Se7en, every horror movie in the 70s. Martin McDonagh made a movie about Seven of them.

Seven Psychopaths is a dark comedy by filmmaker Martin McDonagh of In Bruges... fame isn't the right word. Underrated...ness. Unfortunately, that great film didn't do as well as it deserved, but it is a fantastic movie. If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and do.

Seven Psychopaths is a dark comedy about a screenwriter (played by Colin Farrell) and his two dog-knapping friends (Sam Rockwell and Christopher Walken). They find themselves in a pickle when the dog-knappers dog-knap a Shih Tzu of Charlie, a gang boss who is more or less obsessed with his dog.

If there is one thing I believe Martin McDonagh does better than any other writer/director, it's adding intense drama in the middle of a comedy without making it feel like a different film. He did it with In Bruges and he has done it again with this film. He makes you love the characters with their hilarious tendencies which strengthens the emotional connection you feel for them when they are hurting. I've never seen another director do it quite like he does. It's amazing.

Seven Psychopaths is a great movie, but I don't expect everyone to love it. The reason I love it is the roller coaster of emotion that it is, which I could see being extremely annoying to some. But, if I feel anyway about any and all movies, it's that you should always see it to make your own opinion. Don't listen to me or another critic that actually gets paid to write and does it a lot better than me. See it for yourself. Even if you wait until its at Red Box. I mean, if anything see it for Tom Waits with a Bunny. The movies you hate strengthen your appreciation for the movies you love. There is no such thing as time wasted on a movie.

Except Tree of Life.

My Grade (For Seven Psychopaths, not Tree of Life): A

Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World

Let me just say, if I am around for the end of the world, I hope it's as fun as this.

Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World... is a long title. But a great one. There is no doubt what the movies about if you are walking up to the box office without any idea of what it's about. It even sounds like a comedy, which is exactly what it is. In case you can't tell by the title, or even the trailer above, I got your back.

This movie is about two people that don't meet until the end of the world is imminent. Dodge, played by Steve Carell (40 Year Old Virgin), has his wife leave him the second after they both know the world is going to end. He goes on about his normal routine as chaos ensues around him.

He then meets another tenant of his apartment building, Penny, played by Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean). They soon make a pact that if Penny can get Dodge to his old ex-girlfriend, Dodge would provide a plane for her to flyer to England to spend her last days with her family. And, of course, they bond as they push forward on their journey.

I have never seen a movie about the apocalypse that has made me smile and laugh as much as this one did. It is refreshing to see a movie where people aren't panicking about the end of the world, and just accepting their fate and enjoying their last days on Earth. It really highlights the small moments in your life and helps you appreciate them more.

The two protagonists are a great combination. Dodge went about life following all the rules and Penny was a free spirit. They make for two very different and interesting views of every situation they encounter.

I can see this movie being a hit and miss. For some reason, people don't like to laugh at tragedy. Even when it's fictitious and hilarious. But all comedy is derived from tragedy, so I don't see how these people can differentiate from the two. Even then, this movie is not about death. (Cue cheesy music) It is about life, and enjoying the little things. And how happiness can come from where you least expect it.

Even if you are a high-stung-have-no-fun kind of person, as always, you should see it for yourself and form your own opinion.

My rating: A-