Ben Wheatley has created an instant classic with Free Fire set to be studied by wannabe directors for years to come
Set in Boston 1978, a meeting in a deserted warehouse between two gangs turns into a thirlling game of survival
FREE Fire is one of those films which will almost certainly be studied by wannabe directors in years to come.
Ben Wheatley (under the watchful eye of Exec Producer Martin Scorsese) has pulled of an incredible, head-scratcher of a movie which I could not get enough of.
It’s a masterclass in film-making, which delivers one of the funniest, most violent and well crafted movies I’ve seen for some time.
While the execution and delivery of Free Fire is complex, the premise is extremely simple - It’s 1978 and we find ourselves in a single room within a derelict warehouse witnessing an IRA gun deal between two groups of various nefarious people.
Naturally it goes horribly, horribly wrong and over the next hour and a half we get dragged into one hell of a gunfight.
The two gangs disperse to various corners of the room, seeking refuge and respite and nursing their many wounds (bullets have never been so plentiful yet seemed so puny as they are here - acting like irritating scratches rather than the usual Hollywood flesh carvers) and resorting to playground squabbling and finger pointing.
There are switcheroos, double-crosses and many deaths to get through and all you can do is hold your breath and let it wash over you.
The absurdly good ensemble cast are choreographed to within an inch of their lives, delivering quip after wisecrack after profanity whilst reloading and unloading a filthy amount of bullets and hellfire on anyone that gets in their way.
Brie Larson and Armie Hammer bring some glitter and humanity and Michael Smiley proves himself yet again to be one of the finest character actors we have as second in command Frank.
It’s difficult to pick a true standout, although Sharlto Copley (District 9) gets the lion's share of quotable lines.
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I don’t want to sound too gushing, but I couldn’t fault it - from fashion to soundtrack (Portishead’s Geoff Barrow bringing a touch of jazz class to proceedings) I just loved it.
There will obviously be comparisons to Reservoir Dogs given the premise, but to me where Tarantino agonises over every clever reference and occasionally overwrought characterisation, Wheatley brings a welcome dose of good old no-nonsene British p***taking.
It tongue is certainly in the cheek area and there’s enough withering put downs for this to feel homegrown.
It takes a lot of gall to make a movie with such clear reference points but thankfully Ben Wheatley did a Beyoncé hair flock at that suggestion and just got the hell on with it.
Get the hell down to the cinema pronto.
FILM OF THE WEEK
Free Fire (15) 91 mins
★★★★★