Title: Give 'Em Hell Malone (2009)Starring: Thomas Jane, Ving Rhames, Elsa Pataky
Directed By: Russell Mulcahy
There are two ways you can look at this movie. As a modern, low budget crime drama, Give 'Em Hell Malone doesn't really stand out as a smashing success. If, however, you give the filmmakers their due for making a modern detective noir film, then I think you might just really enjoy this movie. Look at the title! Modern noir with a wink at the audience is really what they're working at here. And (for me at least) it really gelled.
In terms of successes, I'd have to say the look of the film is what really nailed it for me. From the locations to the costumes, you really could be watching a period piece or something happening right down the street. In fact the only giveaways that this is happening in the present are the appearance of a few cars in the chase scenes (which honestly may have been an error by the filmmakers, but it kind of works for the movie adding a certain sense of charm).
That charm is also present in the performance of its two male leads, Thomas Jane & Ving Rhames. They lift the script a little higher every time they're on the screen, especially when they're together. The villains of the story are pretty weak, so no real stand-out's there; although, I was surprised by a few scenes involving the female hitman known as "Mauler" (played by Chris Yen).
I liked this film a lot. It really wears its heart on its sleeve, and I like that when it's pulled off correctly. This is another take on an old school film genre (which I seem to be watching a lot of lately), and I'm glad to be able to put another notch in the "Good" column instead of the "Bitch Slap" column. Recommended.
Score: 8/10
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