Free Fire - The Best Film In March

Certificate – 15

Director – Ben Wheatley

Starring – Sharlto Copley; Armie Hammer; Brie Larson; Cillian Murphy; Jack Reynor; Michael Smiley; Sam Riley & Noah Taylor.

Running Time – 90 minutes (1 hour 30 minutes)

★★★★★

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March has been a superb month of films, even though we've had magically reimagining of a 90s Disney classic, saying goodbye to an iconic comic book character, a ghost coming out of her shell, a massive ape returns and teenagers powering up to defend a doughnut shop.

However, this week the best film of March finally gets released - Ben Wheatley's superb shoot-em-up, action flick Free Fire.

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Massachusetts late ‘70s. Justine (Larson) has brokered a meeting in a deserted warehouse between two Irishmen (Murphy and Smiley) and a gang led by Vernon (Copley) and Ord (Hammer) who are selling them a stash of guns. But when shots fired in the handover, a heart-stopping game of survival ensues.

This film is complete and utter joy and it's the best way to end March as it's so much fun. If you complain about franchises and sequels, then this is an original film worth seeing.

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Every performance was superb - Larson was a badass and doesn't shy away from getting involved in the action, while Hammer is just charming and a bit of a douche (he shows Hal Jordan-esque qualities). However, it's Copley who steals a lot of the scenes with his complete dickish stupidity and brings a lot of the comedy.

Every performance is so solid like Murphy and Smiley, after a while you don't know who to route for.

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This is down to the brilliant script by Wheatley and more importantly Amy Jump. It's incredibly funny, sharp, witty, quick and we get to know every character and no one is underdeveloped, which in such a big assemble cast is impressive.

Wheatley also director is fantastic, the fast pace never makes you feel bored, the tracking shots of bullets was well done and even though you might be focusing on one character you can still overhear the story going on in the background.

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He doesn't shy away from bloody violence either, which is to the film's overall joy.

Verdict

Free Fire is fun, funny, bloody and brilliant action with superb performance.

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