2017: The Year in Film: "Free Fire" Review

First, I saw this MONTHS ago, but the most important part of getting current is catching up, guys. (Or something) So Ben Wheatley has been something of a cult success over in the U.K., with the flicks Kill List and Sightseers gaining some traction as underground successes. He also directed 2015's High-Rise, and now Free Fire, which sees him paired with executive producer Martin Scorsese and a top-notch cast including Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, Armie Hammer and Sharlto Copley in the R-rated action crime genre popularized by the likes of Scorsese himself, Tarantino and Guy Ritchie.

It's 1978 in Boston and an illegal arms deal is taking place in an abandoned warehouse between a mysterious criminal element and elements of the IRA. Needless to say, things are about to go horribly wrong.

The Good: the flick is well-crafted, often funny and well-paced. The characters are charming and keep the events moving right along. Movie shootouts are just COOL, after all, there's a reason that they've been depicted so ubiquitously for decades, and the concept of a movie that is solely one giant shootout is an interesting and compelling one. Visually, the flick looks great, with splashes of color and excitement punctuating the gritty and grim events and surroundings.



The Bad: ultimately, the concept of a film that is one long shootout, at least as executed here, falls flat and rings hollow. Despite the strong cast, the lack of characterization lends the whole endeavor a general air of "who cares?", as we just aren't given any to care about these people and whether or not they get shot or shoot the people they're trying to shoot. Ultimately, the whole thing feels a lot like the finale of a prestige TV series where we aren't privy to the events of the rest of the story, and that's just not enough to sustain my interest or justify the existence of the film as a whole. It's basically a long version of the 2nd half of Reservoir Dogs without the first half, you know, where you meet everyone, are introduced to who they are, and given a reason to care about everything else that happens.

At the end of the day, this film is worth watching, but it's ultimately just an experiment that feels half-baked and underdeveloped. Often funny, with plenty of cool moments, there just isn't enough meat here to justify the flash and experience. It's a fun idea, but I guess we learned WHY shootouts are only a part of the film and not the entirety of it.

6/10