Movie Reviews of ARGO and SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS by Howard Casner
Posted: October 16, 2012 | Author: Donald | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Alan Arkin, Argo, Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Chris Terrio, Christopher Walken, Collin Ferrell, John Goodman, Martin McDonagh, Sam Rockwell, Seven Psychopaths, Victor Garber, Woody Harrelson | 169 Comments »Argo, the new thriller written by Chris Terrio and directed by Ben Affleck, has been described as one of those throw back Hollywood studio movies, one that isn’t based on a franchise or comic book, but is instead a solid, well written, professionally made piece of entertainment aimed at adults. And this is a very accurate description. But at the same time, this also means that it reduces a terrifying and important and politically complex situation to a routine thriller; has jokes that are as old as the Hollywood Hills (though I seemed to be the only one that laughed at the screenwriting/free meal punch line); and has character arcs and plot turns that are obvious and formulaic and have everything but subtlety (and the kitchen sink, I suppose).
But does any of this matter? Does anyone care? It doesn’t seem so. Mainly because it is also highly, if not, incredibly entertaining for the most part (or enough part to make it work very well on its own terms). Indeed, the approach may reduce the circumstances to a Casablanca like simplification, but it doesn’t ignore the historical reality altogether (and gives it more attention and depth than expected). The jokes may be stale, but they are still funny and delivered with the timing of pros. The plotting may be predictable, but it still keeps you on the edge of your seat. And the character arcs may be formulaic, but they still bring a tear to the eye.
So I suppose the conclusion is: go for the entertainment, but leave your aesthetic at the door.
The story revolves around a group of American embassy workers who manage to get out a back door and take refuge in the Canadian ambassador’s home during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. To rescue these six people before the Iranian government finds them (and most likely would kill them), a CIA agent, Tony Mendez, is assigned to rescue them and he does so by coming up with the “best, worst idea” they have: Mendez will pretend to be a Canadian movie producer scouting locations in Iran and then take the six out with him pretending that they are part of his crew.
There’s nothing that wrong with the movie. It more than gets the job done. And it has some wonderful aspects to it, especially in some of the supporting roles. Alan Arkin plays a once big movie producer now reduced to accepting life time achievement awards and he plays his part as if it’s the role of his life (he may be as old as the jokes, but he makes them zing as if they’ve never been told before). John Goodman solidifies his career as one of our most enjoyable supporting actors as John Chambers, a make up artist who won an Oscar for the original Planet of the Apes movie. Victor Garber takes a nothing role as the Canadian Ambassador and fills it with such humanity, one wants to give him the Nobel Peace Prize. And there’s a scene at the end where the annoying Doubting Thomas/Debbie Downer character, who had bad talked the mission the whole way, fulfills his arc by suddenly becoming more invested in his playacting than the others, describing the fake movie they are not shooting to some Iranian guards as if he was pitching the project that could make or break him (which it could, I suppose).
At the same time, as fun as it is, one does wish it could have been better. The rest of the cast is filled with a bunch of TV actors as if the producers were hoping that casting them alone would cover up a certain flatness in most of the roles (it doesn’t, though, as hard as people like Bryan Cranston try). The second act drags a bit, and though the third act is exciting, it is also a bit over the top (so over the top, it’s obvious it didn’t quite happen this way—and it didn’t—the most suspense the real participants had at the airport was a ticket agent who suddenly disappeared for no reason for ten minutes, only to return with a cup of tea) and relies on the authorities turning into a bunch of Keystone Revolutionary Guards (one wanted to shout to them, “Just call the tower, you idiots”).
And then there’s Ben Affleck. Many, including yours truly, were relieved when he became a director. He wasn’t doing anything that interesting from an acting standpoint and his career seemed to stall. Then he gave us Gone, Baby, Gone and he was back with a vengeance. Since then, he has become a more than competent director. Unfortunately, he’s also gone back to acting and keeps putting himself in the lead in his films. There’s nothing wrong with his performance here, but like most of the supporting ones, he can do little with breathing real life into the role and I just kept thinking how much more interesting the film might have been if someone with more screen presence, like Jeremy Renner or Ryan Gosling or Michael Fassbender, had been in the lead.
But then I saw the movie Seven Psychopaths (the second feature by writer/director Martin McDonagh, who gave us the deliriously wonderful In Bruges in 2008) the same day as Argo and what a study in contrasts.
Where Argo was made with a studio finesse, …Psychopaths is a shaggy dog of a story; where Argo is the perfect movie to study for formula with all I’s dotted and tittles crossed, …Psychopaths feels made up as it goes along; where Argo is filled with a supporting cast of actors that seem to be used to cover up a lack of depth in the characters, …Psychopaths has one of the most impressively written ensembles inhabited by perhaps the best and most exciting cast of the year (even when it comes to using TV actors, Argo comes up with Kyle Chandler of Friday Night Lights where …Psychopaths uses Boardwalk Empire’s Michaels’ Stuhlbarg and Pitt); where Argo feels like the poster child of how-to screenplay books and college classes, …Psychopaths seems to revel in saying “fuck you” (and not just implicitly, but also explicitly over and over again in the screenplay) to anyone who thinks one should write according to the rules; and where Argo feels satisfied to be what it is, a well made thriller, …Psychopaths feels infused with the passion and a desire to really do something personal.
So whereas Argo is fun and extremely entertaining (and you will not be disappointed if you see it), Seven Psychopaths is something else: a wonderful, witty, perhaps brilliant rag tag of a movie that does nothing you expect and surprises you in ways that very few movies do.
The basic story line revolves around Marty, a screenwriter who is blocked, (Collin Ferrell, who along with Renner, et al., would probably also have been a better choice for the lead in Argo) and his best friend Billy (Sam Rockwell, in perhaps his finest performance to date), who makes a living kidnapping dogs with his friend Hans (a heartbreaking Christopher Walken). All Marty has for his opus is the title, Seven Psychopaths, but nothing else. But in working out his storyline, he finds himself caught up in Billy and Hans’ world, especially after they abduct a dog from the sociopathic mobster Charlie (Woody Harrelson, who seems to be having more and more fun the further he gets away from the role that first made his name, that of obtuse, country boy Woody in the TV series Cheers). Let’s just say that chaos, violence and hilarity ensue.
McDonagh does some remarkable things in Seven Psychopaths. The story is ridiculous. It’s almost never believable. It’s so over the top, it makes Scarface look like Little Lord Fauntleroy. But the more preposterous the movie becomes, the more caught up you are in the whole stupid, insane mess. And just when you don’t think it can get any more outrageous, McDonagh pulls a rabbit out of his hat (both figuratively and literally) and doesn’t just go one level higher, he makes a tiny adjustment and suddenly you’re so emotionally caught up in the whole thing, you find yourself on the verge of tears. No matter how far from reality the story gets, there’s something so real at the core, that the emotions at times sweep over you in ways that never make any sense, but yet, there they are. How does he do it? I don’t know. But there’s no point in fighting it; resistance is futile.
In the end, though I think Seven Psychopaths is a far superior movie to Argo, I think both represent what I wish movies would be. If you’re going to do a studio driven, formulaic movie that doesn’t try to be anything more than what it is, at least make them as entertaining and intelligent and enjoyable as Argo. But if you’re going to write something personal, if you’re going to revel in being independent and taking movies in a new and unique direction, then movies like Seven Psychopaths are indispensable. Argo is the future of the studios. Seven Psychopaths is the future of filmmaking.
Why is it I always really feel like you do?
https://www.szukampsychologa.pl/events/7-natural-depression-remedies-live-life-again-david-avocado-wolfe.html
Rufus
balance of nature
balance of nature
Rufus
dev.dusandria.xyz
Lisette
wiki.smpyppksantodonboscofakfak.sch.id
balance of nature
balance of nature
stockmanage.win
countrysidetravels.com
http://www.szukampsychologa.pl
Winifred
https://chihan.club/home.php?mod=space&uid=220791&do=profile
http://www.shipai123.com
balance of nature
balance of nature
http://www.sfrpweb.nhely.hu
Korey
Jacelyn
balance of nature
Sterling
balance of nature
balance of nature
Maple
http://www.dd510.com/
balance of nature
balance of nature
ensynmarketing.com
http://www.oasq.com
Krystal
balance of nature
Krystal
http://www.wheretiz.com.au
https://www.1waan.com/
leapdesign.com
Mavis
link.universoplay.com
Mavis
wateringcanministry.com
balance of nature
balance of nature
balance of nature
balance of nature
molchanovonews.ru
Anita
https://kingdomsofold.wiki/
balance of nature
Anita
https://neurofeedbackalliance.org
ejournal.uinib.ac.id
https://06.awahou.com/community/profile/marinanies86424
https://www.scta.tokyo/index.php/Best_Weight_Loss_Supplement
http://www.suncg.net
Azucena
Toney
balance of nature
Toney
http://www.upcyclem.com
fakeplanes.tech
balance of nature
Cortney
balance of nature
Cortney
http://workoteca.ru
http://hongyewuyou.com
http://www.주도어촌체험마을.kr
balance of nature
Efrain
http://i-strength.org/home.php?mod=space&uid=164617&do=profile&from=space
Dee
houston.ac
Dee
http://www.top.rkka.es
https://www.tujipic.net/home.php?mod=space&uid=290934&do=profile&from=space
balance of nature
Patricia
Patricia
Patricia
Chara
Anya
balance of nature
balance of nature
balance of nature
moneyrobot.fr
balance of nature
balance of nature
Rosa
https://www.relaxingcondos.com/
http://www.drugwiki.net
http://www.hltkd.tw
https://wiki.semanticshed.org/
Christy
balance of nature
Darlene
fa668668.com
https://wiki.aja-1905.fr/index.php?title=Several_Rewards_Involving_Bowling:_Shade_Individuals_Muscle_Tissues_Plus_Produce_Successful
akaterra.com
mifengedu.cn
Lovie
balance of nature
balance of nature
balance of nature
veve-eyelashes.com
Dorris
http://3.1415926.mobi/home.php?mod=space&uid=801974&do=profile&from=space
Carley
Carley
Carley
ripdir.com
Jonas
balance of nature
balance of nature
balance of nature
Toney
Georgiana
http://www.goux.cn
kingdomsofold.wiki
Georgiana
http://www.wrx521.com
Malissa
feel-music.ru
balance of nature
balance of nature
http://okss7.com/board_emCO28/516082
balance of nature
Chas
Chas
https://queensrevenge.io/
Moises
balance of nature
http://www.knittingsell.com
alperencinar.com
weboftravelers.xyz
https://jayprakashbot.toolforge.org/index.php?title=User:AnnelieseCorser
forum.itguru.lk
balance of nature
Fawn
Fawn
Lazaro
balance of nature
https://www.johnsonclassifieds.com/user/profile/2355647
Christopher
balance of nature
clw.dfcv.com.cn
bombadil.ling.washington.edu
Linnea
http://www.sftie.com
balance of nature
aiseclub.com
elecdz.cn
balance of nature
balance of nature
balance of nature
https://unitedforbiden.org/
Christin
balance of nature
Christin
balance of nature
http://www.veve-eyelashes.com/
balance of nature
balance of nature
0737.live
Buddy
Monte
Pilar
https://www.tujipic.net/home.php?mod=space&uid=275201&do=profile&from=space
balance of nature
balance of nature
Hollie
Gemma
clubestrategia.com
balance of nature
https://www.8n8n.co.jp/home.php?mod=space&uid=4326478&do=profile
https://www.anunciosentuciudad.es/
balance of nature
forum.pplo.kg
http://www.freakyexhibits.net/index.php/User:ReginaldKossak
Chas
Larae
balance of nature
balance of nature
Geri
balance of nature
Dian
balance of nature
wiki.tomography.inflpr.ro
http://cq.x7cq.vip
https://ganz.wiki
contek.com.ua
ixtimes.com
http://www.nikaraworld.com
balance of nature
Stacia
Melodee
http://www.medflyfish.com
Trena
Trena
https://zachary.wiki
leeline.idcpf.com
balance of nature
http://www.fospeak.com
Lamont
Lamont
http://www.jurisware.com
https://nybrowning.org
Clark
Clark
Clark
Alexandra
balance of nature
Alvin
balance of nature
http://wiki.lynthornealder.com/index.php?title=User:ChiLand869547
bitcoinmoney.ru
balance of nature
epcsoftware.org
http://www.ccwin.cn
balance of nature
http://weboftravelers.xyz/
balance of nature
Monica
zone66x.com
balance of nature
balance of nature
balance of nature
balance of nature
dikoms.ru
https://divarban.ir/
constantly i used to read smaller posts which as well clear their motive, and that is also happening with this post which I am reading here.
Very nice post. I absolutely love this site. Continue the good work!
I am genuinely pleased to glance at this website posts which
contains tons of helpful information, thanks for
providing such information.
Yes! Finally someone writes about health supplement.
Hey this is somewhat of off topic but I was wanting to
know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.
I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding skills
so I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any
help would be greatly appreciated!
I am no longer certain where you are getting your information, but great topic.
I must spend some time studying more or figuring out more.
Thank you for great information I was in search of this information for my mission.
https://geobiverse.net/wiki/index.php?title=User:Jens31M31190961
Eusebia
balance of nature
balance of nature
https://wiki.icluster.cl
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well
written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more
of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly comeback.
Hello There. I discovered your weblog the use of msn. This is an extremely neatly written article.
I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to read extra of your helpful info.
Thank you for the post. I will definitely comeback.
Fantastic beat ! I wish to apprentice at the same time as you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a weblog site?
The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered vibrant clear concept
Simply want to say your article is as astounding.
The clarity for your submit is just excellent and that i could
think you’re an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission let me to snatch your
feed to keep up to date with approaching post. Thanks 1,000,000 and please
continue the enjoyable work.
Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your post seem to be running off the screen in Ie.
I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with browser compatibility but
I figured I’d post to let you know. The design look great
though! Hope you get the issue fixed soon. Many thanks
Hello there! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers
and starting a new project in a community in the same niche.
Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have done a marvellous job!
I was wondering if you ever considered changing the structure of your
site? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could
connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two
pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?
https://www.dushiol.com
https://www.dongeren.cn
deletedbyfacebook.com
Sherita
Sherita
Katia
balance of nature
Candice
avoidingplastic.com
balance of nature
Bernie
yartube.ru
tealv.ru
balance of nature
subcultured.co.za
Louis
pzh.qixiwangluo.com
balance of nature
Margo
Margo
Hi there everyone, it’s my first pay a visit at this
site, and post is genuinely fruitful for me, keep up posting these
articles.
It’s awesome designed for me to have a website, which is beneficial designed for
my experience. thanks admin
Simply desire to say your article is as astounding.
The clearness in your post is simply spectacular and i
could assume you are an expert on this subject.
Fine with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming post.
Thanks a million and please keep up the enjoyable work.
I am sure this piece of writing has touched all the
internet visitors, its really really fastidious paragraph on building up new webpage.
Hi to all, since I am really keen of reading this webpage’s post to be updated daily.
It carries nice stuff.
Hi, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if you get a
lot of spam feedback? If so how do you protect against
it, any plugin or anything you can recommend?
I get so much lately it’s driving me insane so any support is very
much appreciated.
Appreciate this post. Let me try it out.
Its such as you learn my mind! You appear to know so
much approximately this, like you wrote the e-book in it or something.
I think that you simply can do with some p.c.
to force the message house a bit, however other than that, that is wonderful blog.
A great read. I’ll definitely be back.
It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy.
I have read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you some interesting things or advice.
Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this article.
I desire to read more things about it!
We’re a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community.
Your website offered us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done a formidable job and our whole
community will be grateful to you.
Very shortly this web page will be famous among all blog viewers, due to it’s pleasant content
Everyone loves it when individuals get together and share views.
Great site, stick with it!
Currently it sounds like Drupal is the best blogging platform available right
now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you are
using on your blog?
Wonderful site you have here but I was wondering if you knew
of any forums that cover the same topics discussed here?
I’d really love to be a part of group where I can get feed-back from other knowledgeable
individuals that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know.
Cheers!
Yes! Finally someone writes about health supplement.
I pay a visit daily a few sites and sites to read posts,
except this webpage offers quality based writing.
Why is it I always really feel like you do?
Why is it I always really feel like you do?
Gus
22fs.de
balance of nature
Bennett
Bennett
https://school-present.com
https://creationstationus.com/community/profile/tanesha43070220
Arnold
105eoc.com
balance of nature
https://designsystempedia.com/
balance of nature
balance of nature
balance of nature
http://www.miaosha8.com
Concepcion
https://km.dwf.go.th/2022/04/01/what-it-entails-to-seek-out-the-best-monitoring-software/
http://www.oasq.com
hindunesia.org
porno-gallery.ru
Bette
balance of nature
balance of nature
wikipublicpolicy.org
balance of nature
http://www.zerobywtxt.com
web.fhnw.ch
Mable
Mable
Mable
college-loans.xyz
http://www.lleureroquetes.paremanel.org
Johnathan
Johnathan
https://sos-tdah-ecoles.com/
Wonderful views on that!
Tommy
http://forums.boozet.org/
balance of nature
https://bbarlock.com/index.php?title=User:Eloisa2468
forum.marketingsparkle.com
rajendraprasadkushwaha.com
Fatima
en.rightwiki.in
balance of nature
balance of nature
gto5767.com
iklanbarisbatam.com
s2.blndgo.com
http://www.k6dd.com
islamicfake.gay
Paulette
Deb
2020.bbib.tv
balance of nature
wikipublicpolicy.org
Gino
Misty
http://www.danviews.com
Misty
http://journal.ui.ac.id/index.php/mji/comment/view/16/0/3429
Fannie
12steps-online.ru
Kristine
https://www.studiobaby.in/
porno-gallery.ru
Maybelle
balance of nature
Donny
balance of nature
bbs.ubainsyun.com
Elden
Frederick
Frederick
balance of nature
aryba.kg
Jamal
Rick
balance of nature
balance of nature
https://www.szukampsychologa.pl/integracja-sensoryczna/natural-treatment-for-prostate-cancer-super-helpful-tips-for-natural-cure-and-treatment.html
yartube.ru
http://sonyashnyk7.com.ua
balance of nature
http://schlager-wiki.de/Benutzer:JosephValencia6
autoelektrik.pro
https://wiki.bobanetwork.info/wiki/10_Herbal_Supplements_To_Boost_Your_Energy_Levels
hackfabmake.space
sivababasolutions.in
click.linktech.cn
Carmen
Deanne
yazdkhodro.ir
Rubye
balance of nature
balance of nature
kaisod.com
https://recursos.isfodosu.edu.do/wiki2/index.php/Usuario:AlonzoNakamura
clw.dfcv.com.cn
http://gd.gaoxiaobbs.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=413598&do=profile&from=space
balance of nature
balance of nature
ssassociates.in
https://8324.cc/
Jude
https://lms.umgrade.com/ads/shared-apartments-rooms/how-can-you-eliminate-menopause.html
Fermin
Winona
http://www.lzmfjj.com/Go.asp?URL=http://www.odin-haller.de/cgi-bin/redirect.cgi/1024xxxx1024%3Fgoto=http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~hokuto_hinata_itou_obi/Lapin/yybbs/yybbs.cgi%3Flist=thread
https://petclicks.k0.pt/yclas/furniture/natural-cure-for-interstitial-cystitis-tips.html
https://movietriggers.org/index.php?title=User:ChristineCleburn
northbayscene.ca
guiainformatica.net
http://www.leviwebbministries.org
hermetics.org
Minna
balance of nature
balance of nature
balance of nature
beauty-wellness-trends.de
iklanbarisdepok.com
Pedro
http://www.ebanavorio.it
162.248.164.5
balance of nature
Jacelyn
Del
urkarl.ru
https://buysellbusinessinnepal.com/
Jackson
http://www.020web.com/
1000y2s.com
balance of nature
balance of nature
https://331mi.cn/thread-2015-1-1.html
myvrgame.cn
Tyson
https://lms.umgrade.com
dharmakarmas.com
balance of nature
http://lvkozatstvo.org.ua/user/GailMathieu3962
godagang.com
forum.jarisradio.com
balance of nature
balance of nature
balance of nature
http://weiyu520.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=108822&do=profile&from=space
balance of nature
balance of nature
http://themes.snow-drop.biz/s/yybbs63Main/yybbs.cgi?list=thread
http://installation.ck9797.com/
docs.vcloud.ai
bombadil.ling.washington.edu
bbarlock.com
aiseclub.com
https://wikipublicpolicy.org
blog.robustedge.com
balance of nature
https://manipulatorytut.ru/user/LinoMcCarty4565/
Nate
balance of nature
http://forum.goldenantler.ca
http://myvrgame.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=332886&do=profile&from=space
balance of nature
Kelsey
balance of nature
http://www.oguzhankaraburgu.com.tr
balance of nature
https://security.shulker.net/
balance of nature
https://lohasrv.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=82894&do=profile&from=space
http://uncle.yygame.tw/home.php?mod=space&uid=50343&do=profile&from=space
balance of nature
balance of nature
ttnews.ru
Elana
diflucan 150 mg price uk
metformin how to get
buy phenergan australia
175 mg zoloft
discount pharmacy mexico
paxil back
neurontin 100mg cap ivermectin 1 topical cream accutane uk prescription
propranolol 20 mg price
amoxicillin 99
buy synthroid uk
lexapro discount
metformin prescription cost lexapro 0.5 mg buy suhagra 25 mg buy silagra online tretinoin tablets buy valtrex pills online buy sildalis online
ciprofloxacin where can i buy indocin 50 mg zestoretic 10 mg cialis online cheapest prices albendazole pharmacy tizanidine 4mg for sale celebrex medicine
seroquel xr buy lexapro online
perfect
thank you for a very good article
propecia tablet price in india biaxin for sale
generic albuterol without a prescription
buy clomid without prescription
tetracycline cream uk amoxicillin 720 mg albendazole generic price strattera 40 mg pills generic clonidine buy uk buy tadacip canada erectafil clomid canada pharmacy
where to buy elimite
order zoloft
vermox australia online
dapoxetine 60 mg india
buy suprax 400 mg
erectafil 10
avodart generic equivalent
chloroquine 100 mg
ciprofloxacin 1g
can you buy metformin online
clonidine 136
provigil generic
motilium 10mg
biaxin for ear infection
where can i buy biaxin
lasix generic pills
order zoloft online without prescription
buy generic modafinil
xenical tablets uk levitra pills lisinopril 5 mg daily plaquenil for psoriatic arthritis buy celexa cheap stromectol south africa buy erectafil propecia pharmacy prices
buy antabuse in india
clomid 0 5 mg
celexa canada
where can i buy dapoxetine online modafinil 200mg australia
generic advair from india
propranolol from india
finasterid
buy orlistat 120mg online uk
how to get allopurinol
canadian pharmacy allopurinol
zanaflex for sale online
fildena 100 india