BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

Steineded How sad is this?

Forumrxes Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

Hayden Kane There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

rooprect The only reason I watched this was because the guy at the video store handed it to me and told me it was really good, and I would've looked like a wuss if I had thrown it back at him & rented "Sense and Sensibility" instead. I mean, it's tough enough renting a Hugh Grant flick without the added pressure.So I got back home feeling a bit conned & not expecting much. Boy was I surprised. From the first 30 seconds I could tell this was no ordinary action flick.Yes, as other reviewers have noted, this film is strongly rooted in film noir. But what makes it so interesting is that it's noir without the noir. Sure, we have the lantern-jawed, emotionless anti-hero who's everything we would expect from Bogie. We have the mysterious femme fatale and the late night saxophone music to add to the mood. But the visuals, pacing and presentation is something very fresh, very vibrant & colourful, and so over-the-top violent that you can't help but feel the strong contrast against the typical 40s film noir. This was deliberate on the part of the director, just like he deliberately throws in lots of playful anachronisms: 1940s cars driving alongside modern minivans, and old time cityscape that suddenly blends into modern streets (from what I understand, that's what the city of Spokane is really like), and the list goes on. Other interesting contrasts include the tough-as-nails hero who's loving mother drops in at unexpected times. The flow of this film is anything but predictable, and that's what really keeps you hooked.But my favourite part was the insane lineup of villains. It's so surreal, like something out of Dick Tracy. I particularly liked the character of "Matchstick", a deformed, psychotic sicko whom you gotta fall in love with. Then there's the cute/slutty lolita girl "Mauler" who can carve a man up faster than a ginsu knife commercial; yet she complains that she can't get a date. And lastly we have the incomparable Ving Rhames playing the cold-hearted assassin who slips into Gandhi-like moments of introspection and wisdom. What a wacky bunch! This is definitely a fun film. Even the excessive violence is so exaggerated you gotta love it. Here we have the best gore clichés in the business: the guy who gets hit in the mouth and spits a gallon of blood, the guy who gets knifed in the leg and gushes blood like a hose, and don't forget the best one... someone getting their heart ripped out of their chest while they're still breathing. There's a lot of tongue-in-cheek fun going here. It's almost like an action flick that makes fun of action flicks. But at the same time it's subtle enough that you can take it as a straightforward action flick. Either way, you're in for a wild ride.

Argemaluco The "film noir" from the 40's and 50's is one of the easiest cinematographic (and literary) genres to imitate, but also one of the most difficult ones to capture without falling on the ridiculous or the involuntary humor.And even though I suspect some purists could consider the modest film Give 'Em Hell, Malone as a mediocre parody, I personally think that it fulfilled with the necessary requirements in order to simultaneously consider it as an affectionate tribute and respectful imitation of the genre.But, beyond its intention, I think it is a very competent "noir" film with solid performances, an interesting screenplay and even some substance behind the characters which enriches the story.Naturally, the screenplay is a collection of encounters with murderers, allies and informants, which do not always significantly contribute to the story, but at least they keep it on a constant movement, with various opportunities of suspense, violence and stylish dialogs.And that is were Russell Mulcahy's direction best works.Despite the false moves he had during his career (like, for example, the atrocious Tale of the Mummy or Silent Trigger), Mulcahy shows in Give 'Em Hell, Malone that he has not lost his absolute control on the visual language, rhythm and edition in order to construct a consistent narrative flow yet.The costumes, vehicles and sets from this film show a curious combination of nostalgia and modernity; thanks to that, a good "noir" atmosphere is achieved at the same time the technical problems of creating a set from the 40's are solved.By the way, I think the comparisons between Sin City and Give 'Em Hell, Malone are unfair, because the simple fact that they both use the archetypes from detective literature does not mean one is a copy of the other.As for the actors, with one exception, they all contribute to the tribute with natural performances which are free of any irony, at the same time they do not fall in the temptation of taking the story or their characters as a joke.To start with, Thomas Jane is flawless as the main character.Ving Rhames and Doug Hutchison also bring precise works as the villain's henchmen.The exception I talked about on the beginning of the paragraph is Elsa Pataky as the "femme fatale", because she does not bring enough passion or intensity to her character.Give 'Em Hell, Malone may not be a great movie, but its combination of actors, "noir" atmosphere and a labyrinthine screenplay with a satisfactory ending made it very entertaining to me.Besides, it confirms us that Mulcahy can be a very competent director when he works with the right material.

Anoke I'm happy to report that Russell Mulcahy's GIVE'EM HELL MALONE is one of the best films he's ever done. It's super-stylish, has great visionary directing and it's full of ideas. It's Mulcahy the artist, not Mulcahy the gun for hire. Great casting (Thomas Jane, Ving Rhames, Elsa Pataky, French Stewart) are doing a terrific job..Very cool intelligent neo-noir screenplay pays a homage to a classic detective story. The cinematography is dynamic and energetic. I haven't got so much fun with Mulcahy's movie since the glorious times of the HIGHLANDER. It's so good to see Russell in a top form again after the string of shitty movies he did recently.

intelearts I expected this to be my Christmas turkey - but it is actually pretty darn good. The first 8 minutes (no spoiler intended) are excessive - your granny might not like it - and overall the film is raw in places - though not squirmingly so.It is a good pastiche of the 40s film noir nothing too smart or dumb, some humor, with a psycho arsonist and the obligatory Japanese girl with knives, a high body count, a hardboiled hero, a femme fatale, a decent enough plot, and all in all the time went by very fast indeed.All in all, an uber violent and cool attempt with comic book sensibilities that fans of Sin City, Shoot Em Up, Wanted, and The Tournament will lap up.