Director: Ben Wheatley
By Alex Watson
To quote Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels "I don't fucking believe this can everyone stop getting shot!" In Ben Wheatley's Free Fire, that is very much the case. Proving himself across different genres, the British director proves to be adept at doing action films. Essentially two hours of people firing weapons and insults at each other- Wheatley along with executive producer Martin Scorsese somehow keeps this thrilling.
In 1970's Boston, Irish criminals Chris (Cillian Murphy) and Frank (Michael Smiley) along with fixer Justine (Brie Larson) are purchasing weapons. Buying from sleazy arms dealer Vern (Sharlto Copley) and brokered by Ord (Armie Hammer), things go smoothly at first. However, when Frank's drug addled brother in law Stevo (Sam Riley) starts a fight- all hell breaks loose!
The way that Wheatley and co-writer Amy Jump measure the pace of Free Fire is what really makes the difference. Starting a slow yet energetic pace, we see Stevo battered and bruised from a fight taking smack to dull the pain. Each character introduction has a vital stamp on the plot itself, Chris and Frank are ones losing patience quickly. Ord is the well-dressed smooth talker who is immediately suspect, while Justine politely brushes off Chris' awkward flirtations. When Vern appears, he is another kind of creepy but is endlessly quotable "Vern and learn baby!" The amount of different stories going on at once are impressive. All the characters have different hopes and expectations for this deal- but there is also an air of tension that immediately threatens the balance.
When Stevo resurrects an argument with another member of Vern's clan, Harry (Jack Reynor) things go south quite quickly. While everyone attempts to calm things down at first, bullets are soon zipping through the air. For the next hour, Wheatley sets about meticulously planning possible exits and end game scenarios. What makes this a different type of shoot-em-up is the intelligence the story displays. At given points, characters attempt compromises to try and end the violence. Guessing which characters will remain loyal and which will turn is frequently entertaining. You also feel the pain the characters feel each time they are shot. Seeing them attempting to crawl to safety gives this a more realistic feel than most action pieces.
Despite Wheatley giving Free Fire a promising opening, his middle act of people shooting at each other does drag on. At one stage we wonder precisely what the payoff will be? Although there are surprises galore, the finale isn't one that provides any great thrills. The excess violence has been criticised by many, but the picture cannot exist without it. However, the strength of characters is what boosts things. Each one has their own agenda and it is impossible to decipher who is working with who? Wheatley also gives his film an air of cool along with some great dialogue. A director wearing a lot of different hats these days, Wheatley again proves that he is one for the future.
This ensemble cast is served well by standout turns by Brie Larson and Armie Hammer. Larson is the sly vixen whose intentions are ambigious at best, while Hammer is gives his Ord a suaveness that thinly masks his psychopath persona. As usual, Sharlto Copley threatens to steal the show and his Vern is what you will come away remembering. His cringe worthy attempts at chatting up Justine are worth the admission fee alone. Also he is possible the most clear-cut character of the lot, all he wants is the money- as he spends majority of his time reminding people.
Free Fire is a movie that although dips in quality in the middle, is nonetheless a cool and creative shooter flick.
