• The melding of comedy and violence a la Tarantino with some of the stream of consciousness metanarrative work of Charlie Kaufman (particularly Adaptation)—Martin McDonagh’s strengths are in his writing
  • Adore the glowing 0/4 review from Rex Reed—a badge of honor- haha
  • We get one freeze-frame on the first psychopath – drops that aesthetic choice quickly
  • Magnificent opening of Michael Pitt and Michael Stuhlberg—this is true Tarantino- mob-guys, Travolta and Samuel L making small talk
  • The Hollywood sign—this is a metafiction—the lead, Colin Farrell is a screenwriter, he’s named Marty (hey), he’s working on a script called Seven Psychopaths
  • Writers block and Irish alcoholism to great comedic effect
  • The Harry Dean Stanton Quaker movie within the movie
  • An incredibly talented ensemble—Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson—these two would team back up with Martin McDonagh again in Three Billboards in 2017
  • Opera music in one section, rock the next
  • Dialogue like “he’s ok. It’s their blood. It’s his puke”
  • We’re still introducing the seventh psychopath 48 minutes into the film – the structure is flimsy- but always entertaining—the dog is a McGuffin
  • Back to the metanarrative- we finish the film as Farrell finishes typing the screenplay
  • Recommend- but not near top 10 of 2012—I do think In Bruges is stronger