Film Review: STAND UP GUYS (2012)

Director: Fisher Stevens
Writer: Noah Haidle
Running time: 95 mins (approx)
Certification (USA): R

Genre: Comedy/Crime
USA Release date: 1^st February 2013

Watched on DVD Saturday 13^th April 2013.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE UNINTENTIONAL SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

This is a film that has struggled to find an outlet; not loved by the critics, but it has a good cast and a fairly solid premise. It appears to be the fashion these days to bring out aging film stars and put them in roles they’re clearly not physically capable of fulfilling. For a change, this one doesn’t do that; it’s played straight, they’re old guys and they’ll behave like old guys; old guys with guns and an attitude admittedly, but I liked that about this one. But enough of my rambling, here’s a very brief summary before I give you my thoughts.

Then Val (Al Pacino) is released from prison after serving a 27 year stretch, he is picked up by his old friend and partner in crime, Doc (Christopher Walken). The pair reminisces about old times and Doc takes Val out to celebrate his freedom, but there is a dark shadow over them. Crime syndicate leader, Claphands (Mark Margolis), wants Val dead because he killed his son and he wants Doc to do it. Realising he has it coming; Val decides to go out on a high and they go to get their old driver, Hirsch (Alan Arkin), out of a nursing home for one last night together. But all things must come to and end and when the morning comes Claphands wants his vengeance… But old flames have been awoken and it won’t be that easy?

I found this a very bittersweet tale with an ending that may not have played well to many audiences (I liked the ending by the way). It’s quite melancholic although there are some very amusing moments to ease the way. All of the main parts were excellent with Pacino, Walken and Arkin all living up to their billing. A nice soundtrack sets the scene with many old tracks of yesteryear plus a new song at the end from Jon Bon Jovi. Over all, I think I probably enjoyed this a tad more than the critics and would happily watch it again sometime. Some may find it a little too downbeat, but I enjoyed it; particularly the ending.

SteelMonster’s verdict: RECOMMENDED

My score: 7.3/10.

IMDb Score: 6.5/10 (based on 9,755 votes when this review was written).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1389096/

MetaScore: 41/100: (Based on 30 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Tomatometer’ Score: 36/100 (based on 88 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes ‘Audience’ Score: 92/100 (based on 8,256 user ratings counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stand_up_guys/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Val: [after taking too much ED medication] I'm fighting the Battle of the Bulge here. This thing is going up and down like a yo-yo...

Val: Are you a real doctor?
Doctor: Are you a real patient? Is that a real penis?

Doc: Nobody messes with these guys. These are the type of guys that take your kidneys out and not even sell them.

Doc: You can't open a car with a coat hanger any more, Val.
Val: Says who?
Doc: Says the people who make cars.

Hirsch: Hey, Val, it's like the old days, isn't it?
Val: No! It's better.
Hirsch: Yeah! Why?
Val: Because this time we can appreciate it.
Hirsch: Yeah, that's why.

LINKS:
(Note: All were working at the time of going to press)
Trailer:

Film Review: THE DEER HUNTER (1978)

Co-Writer/Director: Michael Cimino
Running time: 182 mins (approx)
Certification (UK): 18

Genre: Drama/War
UK Release date: 27^th February 1979

Watched on Sky+ Saturday 18^th September 2011.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.

I have tried to watch this film a few in the past, but always failed to understand it. This time I cleared FOUR HOURS, taking into account all the little things that distract the viewer at home, and this time I actually got to the end and had some kind of a grip on what it was all about. Here are a couple of sentences about the film before I give you my thoughts.

This is a film of five acts; I’ve called them Home, Hunting, Nam, Home Again and Nam Again. Others may divide it up differently, but that’s how I see it. The story revolves around three guys; Michael, Steven and Nick, from a Pennsylvania steel town who go off to the Vietnam war full of hope and bravado. It deals with what happens to them there and the effects it has on both them and their loved ones back home. I won’t go into specifics, but the effects of their experiences resonate deeply into the community they came from. I’ll leave it there or the Spoiler Police will force me to play roulette with some Vietnamese gentlemen.

First of all, great music throughout, not least the main theme performed by classical guitarist, John Williams. Also the film was beautifully shot by Director of Photography, Vilmos Zsigmond. Great performances all round, particularly from; Robert De Niro as Michael, Christopher Walken as Nick and John Savage as Steven. These three really carried off quite a performance! They were ably backed up by; John Cazale as Stan, Meryl Streep as Linda, George Dzundza as John and Chuck Aspegren as Axel.

Putting aside the great performances, the cinematography and the music for a moment, I have to take a second to comment on the length of the piece. It is far too long; the first two acts take up nearly half the running time and do nothing to further the story that couldn’t be done in thirty to forty minutes. The sequence in Vietnam could have been expanded, for instance, there is nothing that tells us just how they ended up in the situation they did (no spoilers I’m afraid). The later acts could have been dramatically shortened also. So I reckon about an hour could have been cut from this film and it would have been just as good, if not better. I am going to give it quite a decent score despite these misgivings because it is still a very powerful drama that I actually found quite compelling at times… Recommended (with reservations).

My Score: 7.5/10.

IMDb Score: 8.2/10 (based on 104,871 votes at the time of going to press).
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0077416/

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91/100 (based on 45 reviews counted at the time of going to press).
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/deer_hunter/

If you’re crazy enough… You can find me on Facebook at:
http://facebook.com/andy.steel3

FAVOURITE QUOTES:
Michael: What kind of beer would you like?
Linda: What? I don't know. I don't care. Any kind.
Michael: I'll get you a Rolling Rock.
Linda: Okay.
Michael: It's a good beer, it's the best around.

Army Doctor: Chevotarevich, is that a Russian name?
Nick: No, it's an American name.

Stan: How does it feel to be shot?
Michael: Don't hurt. That's what you wanna know. And how it's been, doing OK.
Stan: Yeah, same thing. Nothing's changed. I'm getting more ass than a toilet seat and Axel here; he's getting fatter than ever.

Michael: Here's to Nick.
Steven: [whispering] To Nick.
[All]: To Nick.

LINKS:
Trailer: