Shoot 'Em Up (2007)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Michael Davis

Writer (WGA):

Michael Davis (written by)

Release Date:

7 September 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Just another family man making a living.

Plot:

A man named Mr. Smith delivers a woman's baby during a shootout, and is then called upon to protect the newborn from the army of gunmen.

Plot Keywords:

Baby | Bus | Shootout | Rescue | Heavy Metal

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Clive Owen	...	Smith
Paul Giamatti	...	Hertz
Monica Bellucci	...	Donna Quintano
Stephen McHattie	...	Hammerson
Greg Bryk	...	Lone Man
Daniel Pilon	...	Senator Rutledge
Sidney Mende-Gibson	...	Baby Oliver
Lucas Mende-Gibson	...	Baby Oliver
Kaylyn Yellowlees	...	Baby Oliver
Ramona Pringle	...	Baby's Mother
Julian Richings	...	Hertz's Driver
Tony Munch	...	Man Who Rides Shotgun
Scott McCord	...	Killer Shot in Behind
Wiley M. Pickett	...	1st Killer (as Wiley Pickett)
Stephen R. Hart	...	Club Bouncer

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive strong bloody violence, sexuality and some language.

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Ireland:18 | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #43319) | South Korea:18 | Finland:K-15 | Singapore:M18 | Australia:R | Germany:18 | Netherlands:16 | France:-12 | Norway:18 | Argentina:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Malaysia:18SG | Philippines:R-13 | Sweden:15 | New Zealand:R18 | Taiwan:R-18 | Portugal:M/16 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-15 | Brazil:16 | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Toronto Film Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

In Children of Men (2006), the Clive Owens character also delivers a baby in an awkward situation.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Mr. Smith and Donna bring baby food for the newborn during the days that he is hidden in the tank. A newborn baby does not eat solid food, ever, only breast milk or formula.

Quotes:

[first lines]
1st Killer: You're dead, bitch!
[walks past Smith]
1st Killer: What the hell you looking at?

Movie Connections:

References Pong (1972) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Ride of the Valkyries

If you've got it, Flaunt it!

SHOOT 'EM UP is well named: this is a whompingly good action movie that is as much parody of its genre as it is a good story. It never for a moment takes itself seriously and it is played by a strong cast of top-drawer actors having a terrific time. Writer/director Michael Davis has found his niche and let's hope their will be more dark comedies that are as much fun to watch as this one.

The story is negligible: lone man Smith (Clive Owen at his best) observes a pregnant woman in chased distress, delivers her baby, then finishes off the huge gang of bad guys who are in pursuit, taking the newborn boy to transient safety. Smith finds a lactating prostitute Donna (beautiful Monica Bellucci), takes her from her business of kinky sex and makes her the baby's surrogate mother. A smarmy gangster Hertz (Paul Giamatti in another career forming role), connected to an illicit arms manufacturer Hammerson (Stephen McHattie), is in pursuit of both Smith and the baby for reasons that are finally disclosed: the baby is part of a ring of potential bone marrow donors for an important Senator. The ending is, well, an ending. But it is the getting there that is all the fun.

The dialog is peppered with hilarious one-liners that have a real edge and the methods of the endless killings include several using the carrot that Smith keeps at hand as a weapon. The shootings are fast and impossible but actually hilarious in the choreography. Clive Owen plays the role straight, with a real gift for humor as well as action. Paul Giamatti is a sinister delight and able to match Owens one-liner for one-liner. Monica Bellucci makes her impossible role credible and as always is gorgeous to look at! This is a fast paced, finely written and acted parody - definitely deserving of the comic book title! Grady Harp