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 Free Fire

review Bobby Blakey

I love a good action film and sometimes the less plot the better, but at the same time you want to make sure that there is something there to work with. That is a careful balance with these sorts of films and High-Rise and The ABCs of Death segment director Ben Wheatley looks to do just that with his latest film Free Fire. With a great cast including Brie Larson, Sharlto Copley, Cillian Murphy, Armie Hammer, Babou Ceesary, Noah Taylor, Jack Reynor, Michael Smiley, Sam Riley, and Enxo Cilenti could it unload into the perfect action flick or will it run out of ammo too soon?

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Free Fire follows a meeting in a deserted warehouse between two gangs turns into a shootout and a game of survival in 1976 Boston where everyone is ready to shoot their way out to survive. I cannot explain how much fun this movie is. From the moment it begins you know you are in for a good time just based on the dialogue itself. Director Ben Wheatley has infused his own Tarantino like style into this film that allows the dialogue to be just as entertaining as the shower of bullets that come along with it. The story is pretty simple and offers all the info you need to set up the coming violence that really takes over the rest of the film. With a short run time of an hour and a half this was a brilliant decision because this set up takes no more than 30 minutes of the film and once the first bullet flies it is off the to the races with a flurry of fun.

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This is not one of those over the top shoot outs with the slow motion effects or some badass marksman taking everyone out, this is a group of people that are shooting wildly, confused and just fighting to get out alive. After the first shot rings out it kicks into high gear with the rest of the movie focused on the constant barrage of bullets from every character in the cast and not a single one of them goes unscathed. Throughout the entire gun fight all of these unique characters are constantly shooting just as many quips making for a lot of laughs along with the melee of chaos from beginning to end.

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I could tell from the trailer that I was going to have fun with this but it was so much more entertaining than I expected. I loved every moment of this film and cannot recommend it highly enough. There just are not enough crazy movies like this and I am happy to see that this one helps to fill that void. If you are looking for an insane bullet riddled good time then Free Fire is the film for you.

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In addition to the film this release also includes commentary and a making of featurette. Join in on the witty banter and flying bullets when Free Fire Blu-ray and DVD on July 18th from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. 

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