Clichés and Al Pacino
Johnny Martin’s Hangman (2017) is nothing more than your typical action, homicide movie. The film is good entertainment if you’re looking for a predictable, cliché filled Al Pacino movie. Don’t get me wrong, Al Pacino is one of the most famous actors around, but the film is just another attempt Hollywood at trying to make money off of a well-known actor.
The clichés in this movie are almost hard to miss. The old-dog, decorated, detective Ray Archer (Al Pacino) brought back for help, the helpless-yet persistent- journalist Christi Davies (Brittany Snow), and the hard ass detective Will Ruiney (Karl Urban). They go on as a team to solve the insidious serial killer, who is using a creepy twist on the child’s game hangman, to carry through with his murders. Al Pacino’s character is about as cliché as it gets. He has all the answers, the wisdom and he’s cool and collected. The journalist is also a walking cliché. She ends up being the “weak link” and gets captured by the serial killer and almost gets killed. But don’t worry, Ray Archer (Al Pacino) to the rescue, along with his stoic, tree of a human being, sidekick Will Ruiney. The film ends with Will Ruiney throwing the killer down a stairwell, shooting him in the face, Al Pacino’s character dies, and the possibility of another serial killer. The ultimate ending, and the ultimate cliffhanger. They laid the foundation for a sequel.
This film fits into how Hollywood continues to make money. They take films that were very popular, or actors/actresses who were very popular, and make movie after movie based off of that first film or actor/actresses career. They repeat the snot out of it until they stop making money, and completely ruined the real thing. Hollywood took a renowned actor and tried to use him to make money off of a sub-par movie plot with a low budget.
The movie is not a work of art, but it is decent entertainment for a group of friends that are hanging out with nothing better to do. If you’re an Al Pacino fan, give this movie a shot. If you’re looking for a thinker of a movie, I wouldn’t recommend this film.
