Shooters

I saw SHOOTERS at my local video store and saw a comment along the lines of, "comparable to Lock, Stock, & Two Smoking Barrels". Well, I can now say that it is not. Though, I did find it to be a very interesting movie overall. A very different taste and nothing like Lock, Stock.

I seem to be submersing myself on British films lately....This was transparent from the start but it held my attention. I wanted to wait it out until the end to see how these characters prevailed or failed. Good action sequences....as action goes. As an American I am always looking for life in the UK. But I can't really compare gang war from one country to the other.Thankfully I am not fluent in either. I have to say that I have been watching Ioan Gruffudd for some time now and that was my motivation for seeing this film, along with his flatmate Mathew Ryhs. Quite nice to look at even for brief moments. Why do I have to submit 10 lines? I am not a literary agent.... ohcheap1

Shooters might have been condemned to be a mediocre movie if not for a few telling items. The atmosphere, scenery, and outstanding actors redeem this film. Shooters isn't a movie to go to, if you're looking for something flashy. Instead Shooters gives a dreary look into the life of two gangsters. The atmosphere is exactly what it should be. It carries you with J (Andrew Howard) and Gilly (Louis Dempsey), forcing you to the building sense of everything losing control. The gritty, true-to-life feel is somewhat lost at the end--leaving a feeling of shock or anti-climax. Still, it is a much better film than many give it credit for.

As previously stated, the actors are superb. Particularly, Andrew Howard as J was a powerful character. Howard is what really propels the story along. Poor Dempsey (Gilly) seems dull and lack-luster compared to Howard's dynamic acting. Also noteworthy would be Gerard Butler (Jackie Jr), Matthew Rhys (Eddie), and Adrian Dunbar (Max Dunbar).

Shooters is worth your time, if you're looking for something that doesn't rely on special effects to keep hold of it's audience's attention. Andrew Howard is definitely an actor to keep an eye on.

OK, I admit: I am a fan girl. I will watch any movie with Ioan Gruffodd and/or Gerard Butler in it, even if it is a dark, low budget, depressing indie flick.

So when I sat down to watch this, I solely intended to ogle my two boys and leave the rest of the movie to the elitist film critics.

But the end of it, I was transfixed by the reality of it all. Unlike so many American films, there are no heroes with chiseled jaws who are impenetrable to bullets. Everyone is equally flawed, and everyone is equally endangered.

I know, I'm a stupid American fan girl, and as such, not a reliable source, but it ranks on my top list films overall. Not just Brit films.

Lock Stock isn't close.

The promise of gangsters, guns and crime attracted this film to me, as i love the subject. But unfortunately this film was a big disappointment for me. Both Gilly & Max looked completely unconviencing as gangsters, and max especially would have been more suited as a hairdresser or a knitting teacher.

The whole story line is pretty week, and you have to wonder what the entire point of the film is besides trying to glamourize guns, taking drugs and drink driving.

I stuck with the film though in the hope it would get better, but apart from the twists in the last 30 seconds of the film, it just wasn't worth watching.