Written by: Martin McDonagh
Starring: Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken, Tom Waits
Rating: [3.5/5]
Blending fact and fiction creates entertaining stories as it allows us to draw from the truth but give it the necessary spice and gravitas of fictional storytelling. However, when the truth begins to seep into your real life as done so in Seven Psychopaths, it takes what looks like something dull into a completely different stratosphere. Also, when it gets written by one of the sharpest writer/directors in the game, it turns into quite the bonanza.
Struggling to write his next screenplay, Marty (Colin Farrell) begins to receive inspiration from events he reads and stories he hears with some of them coming from his chaotic friend, Billy (Sam Rockwell). When the story evolves and begins to lie more in reality, he finds himself in a truly dangerous situation with no idea how to react.
Having Europeans tell stories centered in America with American characters always serves as a fascinating look at how these individuals perceive us and our culture. Martin McDonagh takes a stab at it with his approach to this very Hollywood story employing his typical bombast and incredibly jarring language to make for something incredibly entertaining. The choice of words will leave some aghast and distinct plot decisions will have you scratching your head, but it all comes as part of the McDonagh experience for better or for worse.
Telling this story very much fits with something personal as a writer, because of how much the plot centers on the entire concept of writing. Everything comes together through a blend of personal experience and stories gleaned from other people. Marty exemplifies this through the creation of this script, which evidently shares the same name as the film we’re watching as audience members. McDonagh takes this meta approach in the storytelling of this feature to demonstrate where inspiration can strike. It navigates as stories within a story each serving its own lesson even if some of them do not come with a distinct clarity. This feature also demonstrates what it takes to give credit for crafting a screenplay, especially as Marty gleans several stories he has been told to fold into his narrative as a whole. It begs the question of what serves as mere inspiration he can freely use as opposed to something where others deserve some sort of credit for their contribution.
At the center, we have Marty’s struggle both with his work, alcoholism, and how Billy factors into it. Billy serves as this enigmatic character where you think you may have him figured out but he constantly flips the script. A wild card you might say, but he evidently propels the narrative, which demonstrates he serves as quite the inspiration. He flips the script on multiple occasions as to where the line between truth and fiction lies. Their contentious friendship at times serves as the heart and soul of this film and it really pulls at the heartstrings, especially when we get towards the end of the feature.
The erraticness of this feature serves as a bug but also what makes it tick as its scattershot approach in telling its story within a story allows for the moments of connecting the dots to have all the more meaning to it. A difficult challenge to take on but one McDonagh proves more than qualified in achieving. Each of these little scenes gets its moment to shine and have its own staying power in its own right. When it all comes together you see the full picture of everything McDonagh seeks to convey and you just have to give it up to the guy.
Headlining the cast we have a McDonagh regular in Colin Farrell, who expectedly puts in another trademark performance. For an actor who thrives when given the ability to let loose and not have to work within the rigidity of operating as a leading man, he does so well in capturing the quirks of his character. In a sense, he serves as an audience surrogate as he sees the sheer madness he endures through his eyes. Sam Rockwell does well but much credit must go to Christopher Walken, who typically sleeps through his roles this past century but he certainly came to play with his Hans Kieslowski. One of those moments where you see he found a screenplay worth bringing his A-game to and absolutely nailing it in the process.
Incredibly entertaining and utterly shocking in moments, Seven Psychopaths serves as Martin McDonagh’s first foray into making a story centered in America and he brings his sting via pen and camera with a great result. You get a hilarious film with layers built upon itself to get at the root of this friendship between Marty and Bickle as well as a larger commentary on the writing process in putting together a screenplay. For better or worse, it contains all of McDonagh’s tendencies but undoubtedly holds an entertainment factor and one I certainly enjoyed.
Films with Josh 
