Director Michael Davis uses an outre violent style inspired by the John Woo “ballet-of-bullets” style as a logical extension of the old Bugs Bunny cartoons.
Smith (Clive Owen in the Bugs Bunny role) is an all-around tough good guy that rescues a newborn baby after witnessing its mother being gunned down by badass gunslinger Hertz (Paul Giamatti in the role of a very twisted Elmer Fudd).
Owen’s Mr. Smith really does munch on carrots, usually as a tell that guns are about to fire, and Hertz really does say, “wascally wabbit” in the midst of outrageous shoot outs and chase scenes that get increasingly hairy.
“Shoot ‘Em Up” belongs to the “Transporter”/”Smokin’ Aces” school of modern western grindhouse cinema. Probably not the best source material for a communal psyche of peace, love, and understanding.
The exploitation element is similar to the way Andy Warhol exploited icons of pop culture.
When Hertz makes out with a corpse, or Monica Bellucci shows up as a lactating strumpet with the hots for Smith, you know you’re somewhere between Sam Peckinpah, David Lynch and John Woo.
Rated R. 93 mins.
