BLU-RAY REVIEW: SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS
1/27/2013

OVERVIEW: Golden Globe® winner Colin Farrell (2009, Best Actor – Comedy, In Bruges) leads an all-star cast in the comedy SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS, available January 29th on Blu-ray™ and DVD with UltraViolet™ from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and CBS Films. Directed by Academy Award®-winning writer/director Martin McDonagh (2009, Best Writing - Original Screenplay, In Bruges), the film follows a Hollywood screenwriter and his oddball friends, who all end up embroiled in an outrageous kidnapping scheme gone wrong. The acclaimed cast includes Sam Rockwell (Iron Man 2), Woody Harrelson (The Hunger Games), Academy Award® winner Christopher Walken (1978, The Deer Hunter, Best Actor in a Supporting Role), Tom Waits (The Book of Eli), and Abbie Cornish (Limitless). 

The Blu-ray and DVD both come with six featurettes. “Martin McDonagh’s Seven Psychopaths” features the cast talking about both the story and director McDonagh’s vision for the film. “Colin Farrell Is Marty” features Farrell discussing his character from the film, while “Woody Harrelson Is Charlie” focuses on Harrelson’s character. “Crazy Locations” highlights the various filming locations in LA and the Mojave Desert. “Seven Psychocats” is a re-made trailer featuring a cast of seven “psycho-cats,” in which the cast is replaced by cats. “Layers” is a video mash-up of the film set to a rap beat.

SYNOPSIS: From Oscar®-winning writer and director Martin McDonagh comes a star-studded, blood-drenched, black comedy. Marty (Farrell) is a struggling writer who dreams of finishing his screenplay “Seven Psychopaths” and all he needs is a little focus and inspiration. Billy (Rockwell) is Marty’s best friend, an unemployed actor and part time dog thief, who wants to help Marty by any means necessary. Hans (Walken) is Billy’s partner in crime, a religious man with a violent past. Charlie (Harrelson) is the psycho-pathetic gangster whose beloved dog Billy and Hans have just stolen. Charlie is unpredictable, extremely violent and wouldn’t think twice about killing anyone or anything associated with the theft. Marty is going to get all the focus and inspiration he needs, just as long as he lives to tell the tale.

FILM REVIEW:   

Hans: An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind. 
Billy: No, it doesn't. There'll be one guy left with one eye. How's the last blind guy gonna take out the eye of the last guy left?

This is one wild and crazy film in so many ways. At the same time, “it’s got layers” and “it’s moving”. This is a movie about the script writing of a movie about this movie. Did you get that? Exactly! It is zany fun with some dark humor, physical humor, randomness, and hard core wackiness. At some moments it’s flat out hilarious. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time. One of the best aspects is how well the title befits the movie. You’re going to get what you would expect and maybe more. For Priscilla, however, some of the more was a bit much. “There was a lot of heavy carnage . . . too ‘in your face’ carnage.” This is like Quentin Tarantino, Kill Bill type blood and gore, shocking and squirting. But hey, the dogs used in the film were super adorable, none more than Bonny, the Shih Tzu. So we go from funny to blood to cute over and over again throughout the movie so you are really on your toes because you’re not sure what you’re going to get next. On top of that and other than the off the wall story and concept, the cast really makes the movie and is the icing on the cake. Probably the most impressive performance is given by Sam Rockwell. He goes all out on the psychopath concept and is the winner of the most insane psycho of the seven. Well, actually, there is also Woody Harrelson who gives some strong competition for that title. He also gives an excellent performance. And of course there’s Mr. Christopher Walken. He is incapable of giving a bad performance. He also fits in this story very well. There is a bunch of talented folks with small roles that fill in the movie nicely but leave you wanting to see more of them.

The fundamental story of this film is actually simple but the presentation is elaborate and convoluted. There are some surprising turns and revelations too. This movie is really entertaining in so many ways. Heck, even the cinematography is pretty darn good for a movie of this genre. And while we’re at it, Writer/Director Martin McDonagh has done a pretty darn good job with this movie being only his second major motion picture. In Bruges was his first and I think you can see a pattern. His skills are improving already. You won’t go wrong by selecting this movie at the box office, just leave the younglings at home.

Review By Cine Marcos 
cinemarcos@smartcine.com

BLU-RAY: The film is presented in widescreen in a 2.40:1 aspect ration preserving its theatrical format. The picture is just flawless. Not only the picture looks great in this release, also the sound it is good, a 5.1 Dolby Digital in English that provides a good complement to the picture. It also includes  English, French  and Spanish subtitles.

VIDEO:
Widescreen (2.40:1) 16x9

AUDIO:
English 5.1 DTS-HDMA,

Subtitles - English French Spanish 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

6 Featurettes:

"Martin McDonagh's Seven Psychopaths”

"Crazy Locations"

"Woody Harrelson is Charlie"

"Colin Farrell is Marty"

“Layers”

“Seven Psychocats”

Ultraviolet Copy