By Emilio Frenk.
Director: Ben Wheatley
Cast: Sharlto Copley, Cillian Murphy, Armie Hammer, Brie Larson, Michael Smiley, Sam Riley, Enzo Cilenti, Babou Ceesay, Noah Taylor and Jack Reynor.
Rating: Good.
Ben Wheatley, director of “Kill List” and “High Rise” bring “Free Fire” an action/comedy that despite being absurd at all levels, it has good and funny moments.
Set up in Boston during the late 70´s, “Free Fire” tells the story of Chris (Cillian Murphy) and Frank (Michael Smiley), two IRA members who have a business meeting with weapon dealers Vernon (Sharlto Copley), Ord (Armie Hammer) and intermediary Justine (Brie Larson).
The meeting takes place in a deserted warehouse and everything goes wrong when a member of Vernon´s gang Harry (Jack Reynor) snaps when he see´s Stevo (Sam Riley) one of the drivers of Chris and Frank since he attacked Harry´s cousin leaving her in the hospital.
Now the two sides begin a shootout in the warehouse and not only both gangs will try to recover a briefcase full with a lot of money but will have to manage to survive in order to get out of the place.
“Free Fire” is a movie that I feel that director Ben Wheatley was very influenced by Quentin Tarantino`s “Reservoir Dogs” since the plot is similar but this movie was not even close to Tarantino`s masterpiece.
The characters of the film I felt that there were absurd but at the same time I admit that were fun to watch.
The most funny and interesting character of the film was Vernon played by Sharlto Copley which you can barely understand a word he is saying but is one of his trademarks.
On the other hand I felt Brie Larson´s performance was anything but spectacular. In fact I don´t see the point on having a female character in the film. Larson is without a doubt one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood but I felt her character was too vague.
The Screenplay written by Ben Wheatley, who joined forces with Amy Jump had an interesting setup but I felt the story was too repetitive and weak. I understand there is a reason for the shootout but then the same things happen over and over again.
The addition of other characters who want the same as the two gangs was completely useless and I think that with the characters of both gangs would have been enough.
For fans who like camera handheld in film I think you are going to enjoy it but I do think the execution of the film could have been better.
I did had a good time watching this movie and I laughed of how absurd it was and some of the dialogue and scenes didn´t make any sense but I was entertained.
If more time would have been invested story wise the movie could have been a better one since I felt that I was watching a carbon copy of “Reservoir Dogs” but much weaker.
With that being said I give “Free Fire” a marginal recommendation. Do not expect a masterpiece on this movie but I can guarantee you that you are going to be entertained and you are going to laugh with some of the humor, specially if you like a very dark one.