2012: A Year of Ellipses: Seven Psychopaths Movie Review
By Tyler Foran 09.21.23
From the man with enough awards and nominations to fill both sides of a voice memo cassette tape comes another brilliant movie I have never heard of. Martin McDonagh, writer/director of In Bruges, Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri, and, most recently, the talk of every town in the world: The Banshees of Inisherin, comes a movie so funny, authentic, and heartwarming, I wish I had seen it sooner. After seeing this movie, I will live the rest of my days as a happy, upbeat individual, where everyone will think I’m just some psychopath.
Seven Psychopaths stars Colin Farrell, a struggling screenwriter trying to come up with a new movie idea, with an actor friend, played by Sam Rockwell, trying to be a good friend and inspire Farrell’s character. Rockwell’s character is very outspoken and supportive and is a guy who generally goes all out without thinking of the consequences. Or does he? Christopher Walken and Rockwell are friends, too, and have a business of stealing dogs to get the reward money for Walken’s wife. But then, Rockwell steals a dog from a man you don’t steal dogs from.
The previously named actors crush their roles, putting on performances that excite you and make you wonder what might be ticking behind those eyes. Another outstanding performance is brought to you by Woody Harrelson, the mafia guy whose dog was taken. What unravels from this simple act of ransom turns into a laugh-out-loud hilarious bloodbath! All while Farrell and Rockwell try to put together a script for a movie worth watching.
If you were looking for a predictable, sit down and have your brain turn to mush while you skim through your phone notifications, this movie isn’t for you. There are twists and turns, stand-up and cheer moments, and sad moments delivered so beautifully you can’t help but feel like you, too, have lost someone important in your life. I can’t recommend this film enough! I might watch it again as soon as I finish writing this. It has a cast of lovable characters, including Tom Waits, who enters the picture after Rockwell’s character puts an ad in the paper looking for psychopaths to help inspire Farrell.
As I said, this movie will keep you guessing, and every turn is more pleasurable to enjoy than the last. I would hate to reference too much, as I don’t want to give away a moment. I know, spoilers from a movie from eleven years ago… but if you haven’t seen it, you need to. In fact, if you never see another movie again, make Seven Psychopaths your last to hold you over till the day you steal the wrong pooch.
