PREVIEW-Seven Psychopaths

In 2008 Martin McDonagh, considered to be one of the most important Irish playwrights living today, presented his feature length debut as the Opening Night film at the prestigious Sundance Festival. In Bruges, a black comedy starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes about two hitmen who hide out in the romantic Belgian city after a job gone wrong, would see McDonagh earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay plus wins in the same category at the BAFTAs and BIFAs and ultimately turning his critically well-received debut into a cult classic.

Five years on, McDonagh and Farrell (who won the Best Actor Golden Globe for In Bruges) have reunited for another sterling effort in the black comedy genre with Seven Psychopaths, together with an all star cast including Sam Rockwell (Moon) Woody Harrelson (The Messenger) and the legendary Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter).

Marty (Farrell) is a struggling writer who dreams of finishing his screenplay, "Seven Psychopaths". Billy (Rockwell) is Marty's best friend, an unemployed actor and part time dog thief, who wants to help Marty by any means necessary. All he needs is a little focus and inspiration. 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's 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

Much like that difficult second album, it's often a bit of a tall order for an emerging director to equal the efforts of their debut and In Bruges, for its witty dialogue and deft performances, was certainly one to beat. A parallel to that of Quentin Tarantino could easily be drawn and if McDonagh's debut was his Reservoir Dogs, Seven Psychopaths is unquestionably his equivalent to Pulp Fiction. Whilst the usual generous serving of sharp dialogue and gleeful violence are present and accounted for, it also delivers an incredibly sly cinematic commentary particularly on the mechanics of screenwriting and the division between reality and fantasy. This exceedingly witty and delightfully dark film deserves to be seen and what better place to see it than at your local arthouse.

"Enormously entertaining, endlessly quotable, perfectly cast and packed full of the richest acting you'll see from an ensemble cast all year"

Kim Newman, Empire

"What movie junkie out there wouldn't leap at the chance to see merry pranksters such as Christopher Walken, Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson go nuts in something called Seven Psychopaths? It's crazy-killer fun."

Pete Travers, Rolling Stone

"There are scenes of complete brilliance, Walken is better than he's been in years, cute plot loops and grace notes."

Catherine Shoard, The Guardian  

Check out the trailer below:

Seven Psychopaths (15) plays on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th February ONLY at 7:45pm with a Screen Tea matinee on Saturday 16th (10:45am)