Shoot 'Em Up

“Shoot ‘Em Up,” starring sexy Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti, is such a hoot! Take it from me, if you’re an action fan, you’ll get a kick out of this over-the-top, well, shoot ‘em up. The body count is high and the different ways to engage in a shoot out is definitely creative. And talk about unique ways to use a carrot as a weapon. Plus the way Owen handles the action proves that he would have made a spectacular James Bond. (He was my first choice.) Owen is Mr. Smith, whose impulsive good deed of trying to save a pregnant woman from thugs leaves him as sole caregiver of a newborn baby. With a professional hitman after the baby, Smith is also forced to act as protector. Owen is effective as the enigmatic Smith, a man who is not as jaded as he seems and Paul Giamatti does a skillful turn as the tenacious assassin. The tongue-in-cheek tone is perfect for this ultra-violent film. (9/7/07)