Seven Psyhcopaths (***1/2 out of ****)

You don't see them too often, but when you get a completely self aware film like Seven Psychopaths it's a real blessing. Here is a film that is funny,goofing, sometimes moving, and gets the audience involved. I expected nothing short of good from director Martin Mcdonagh. His previous film In Bruges, is perhaps the best dark comedy of last decade. So the director returns with the genre and his leading man Colin Farrell and works some movie magic once again.

Marty (Colin Farrell) is a screen writer stuck on writing a new script. He has a title and a idea, but nothing else. The plan is to make a movie filled with psychopaths that are unique and unseen before in Hollywood. He gets a little help from his friend Billy (Sam Rockwell stealing the show), a dog kidnapper. Billy and his friend Hans (Christopher Walken) look for rich people in parks, steal their dog, wait for a reward to be offered for the dog's return, then give the dog back and make some money. This plan goes well until they steal from crime boss Charlie (Woody Harrelson).

Seven Psychopaths is completely aware that it's a movie. Some of scenes would not be possible otherwise. However that's the fun of it. Characters discuss Marty's script which they have been written into and look to tell their own story. Seven Psychopaths is a wild ride and a vanity project in the style of Charlie Kaufman/Spike Jonze's Adaptaton. The film plays with the audience and rewards it by playing things smart and entertaining. Some movies are grounded in reality. This is a movie to bewilder literally everyone involved. Any movie where Harry Dean Stanton plays a vengeful Quaker is bound to be intriguing.

***1/2 out of ****