Seven Psychopaths: Not a killer movie, but pretty doggone good

A struggling, alcoholic writer, Marty (Colin Firth) can’t get past the title page of his screenplay, “Seven Psychopaths.” Friend Billy (Sam Rockwell) , a struggling actor and a dog “borrower” who nabs neighborhood pups so his accomplice Hans (Christopher Walken) can collect the rewards, does his best to inspire and advise Marty. He even advertises for reformed psychopaths to share their stories for possible inclusion in the script, resulting in a violent recounting of the Dexter-like anti-crime crime spree of the disturbed white-rabbit-toting Zachariah (Tom Waits) and his wife.  But, it’s not till Marty finds himself in the middle of a violent criminal’s (Woody Harrelson as Charlie) search for his beloved pooch that the inspiration (and the blood) really starts flowing.

Directed by Martin McDonagh of 2008’s In Bruges, it has familiar elements including commonplace banter about decidedly uncommon topics, slow, understated moments and a convergence of characters in a big action scene. But, perhaps because we were pleasantly surprised by In Bruges, we were ready for something pretty spectacular out of Seven Psychopaths. We do get a host of actors known for playing the hell out of quirky who deliver on making the film’s clever dialogue sing. But, we also get a movie about writing a movie that gets a little too self-referential, a little off track and sometimes, we must admit, even a little boring.

In the end, you can’t help be drawn in by the characters, but your enthusiasm might be tempered by the story they’re helping to write.