Vite a mano armata

Since the last reviewer of this film seemed to have missed the point (as well as got too caught up in mess of foul language being used far too often...just so you know c__p = crap. You can say crap you know, it won't hurt you. Yes this movie has foul language...yes this movie has gratuitous violence...and yes some of the acting is a bit strained and even cheesy; however, this was the point of this movie. It was cheesy for effect. (Ever seen Starship Troopers??) Too bad most people can't enjoy a movie if it is the usual Hollywood drizzle that seems to hit the big screens most often these days. The movie is a free-for-all that focuses on a rather pathetic, over-the-hill man who has just lost everything he holds dear. The high point of this film is actually Jason Priestly and partner in crime...and in life. They shine. In fact this has to be one of the best roles I've seen Priestly in (he's very much out of character in this story) So if you're into just sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying a movie that never tries to take itself seriously, i recommend this film.

A plot that lets some excellent actors -- especially McHattie and the astounding Harris -- run wild. And, for good measure, you get Louis Gossett Jr.!! Priestly plays edgy very well. In fact, you'll have a hard time deciding whether this whole movie is funnier than it is edgy, or edgier than it is funny. The comedy is dark, but not off-puttingly so.

"Jason Priestly stars as 'Breakfast', a psychotic jewelry store thief whose grip on reality is frighteningly precarious, according to the DVD sleeve, "With his accomplice 'Panda' (Bernie Coulson), the duo make off with a carload of cash, a result of a tip-off from beautiful cashier 'Ziggy' (Laura Harris). Her reward: to hitch a ride with the out-of-control duo so that she can meet her long-lost father Francis (Stephen McHattie). But he's on a suicidal quest to even a score with his former boss (Louis Gossett, Jr.) and has the cops hot on his trail. Rage, murder and revenge are about to collide!" Stay out of their way!

*** The Highwayman (4/28/00) Keoni Waxman ~ Jason Priestly, Laura Harris, Stephen McHattie

You know it's a bad sign right off the bat when:

• characters jump on a city bus (which must be free, because nobody has to pay) and start smoking cig's. Where is this?

• these really cool bad guys who rob jewellery stores for a living say that money doesn't mean anything, and proceed to burn the money they just *robbed* from people. So why exactly do they bother??? And if money means nothing to them, why are they so obsessed and concerned with it? Who wrote this crap?

• you recognize people you've seen in canadian pizza pocket ad's

• the 'bad' guys actually look like people from pizza pocket ad's dressed up like bad guys, making stupid 'mean' faces.

• jason priestly is a bad guy

Not even worth listing the many reasons why this movie is so annoyingly bad. How do these things get made? It actually made me sad to see Lou Gosset in this c-grade project.

Luckily I saw this on TV, so it didn't cost a thing. But it did cost me time. Well, about an hour, until I finally couldn't take anymore. Save yourself both time and money.

Avoid.

I can't understand the negative reaction this movie has garnered here on IMDb. If you like indie entertainment you should enjoy this movie. Surprisingly fine performances from the leads (Harris, Priestly and McHattie) as well as the rest of the cast, and a story with some mildly original perspectives and twists.