Free Fire

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An arms deal in a warehouse goes south. The people involved in the deal splinter off into two groups and begin shooting at each other. Free Fire offers a fun actioner with darkly funny spin. The characters are all pretty damn entertaining, even if they aren’t necessarily the best people. This movie feels like something Quentin Tarantino or Martin Scorsese (one of the movie’s producers) would’ve done in the early 90s. It’s a movie that earns its R rating. The violence in the movie is entertainingly stylish (part of the reason I bring up Tarantino). The actors in the movie all bring their possible A-game, making a pretty damn awesome script work. The standouts are probably Jack Reynor, Armie Hammer, Sharlto Copley, and Brie Larson. Jack Reynor felt unrecognizable. Hell, I didn’t realize what character he played for most of the movie. They do give a lot of these characters small moments of development. For example, Chris (Cillian Murphy) seems to have feelings for intermediary Justine (Brie Larson), and the two even talk about grabbing a drink. Stevo (Sam Riley) and Harry (Jack Reynor) had a violent encounter the night before the movie started. Stevo is someone who is married, but appears to be unfaithful, hitting on Harry’s cousin. Stevo is also being given a shot by his father-in-law Frank (Michael Smiley). Ben Wheatley directs this movie with the right amount of flair. You enjoy your time watching this movie. Overall, Free Fire works because of solid direction, a shining script, and talented and charismatic cast. 

10 / 10