Seven Psychopaths
2012109 minutes
rated R
by Scott Mendelson
Martin McDonagh's Seven Psychopaths is something of a miracle. It works both as a straight-ahead crime dramedy while also serving as a piercing satire of said genre. It is a delightfully funny and clever romp in the land of violent criminals as well as a post-modern commentary on both the cliches of the format and the very fact that we not only embrace such characterizations but hold them on a higher platform in terms of critical acclaim and prestige. At its basest level, McDonagh's film aims to take every wanna-be hip gangster saga that has emerged eighteen years after Pulp Fiction and slap them all silly. But while the meta-moments and occasionally outlandish violence may stand out, it's the commitment to its own reality and acknowledging the tragedy of its own blood-soaked tale that makes the film linger and makes it a genuine work of brilliance. This is simply one of my favorite films of the year and one of the year's happiest surprises.
