Free Fire (**1/2)

I liked the setup for FREE FIRE, in which maybe a dozen characters all meet in an abandoned warehouse to carry out a weapon's purchase. Set in the late 1970's in the midst of some sort of rival gang war, the people we see here are all funny, believable, and most of all have interesting interactions with one another. The movie was on track to be some sort of Tarantino-inspired think piece, but sadly whittled down into a mindless "shoot-em-up" movie that tested my patience and sanity on multiple levels.

It's late one night in Boston's warehouse district when the simple exchange of money for weapons is meant to occur. Chris (Cillian Murphy) is a member of an Irish resistance army and meets with Vernon (the ever-funny Sharlto Copley) who is a wise-cracking arms dealer who has the ability to procure crates of automatic weapons for a price. Accompanying Chris is Justine (Brie Larson), some sort of mediator, Ord (Armie Hammer) who acts as middle-man, and a slew of bumbling henchmen and the like.

The idea of this film was really appealing right off the bad, and I found myself entertained by the small conversations each character was having. Besides Chris (who wants the guns) and Vernon (who wants the case of money), practically ever other person in attendance has their own side grudges or hold ups. One of Chris's drivers was beat up in a bar fight the night before and needs makeup to conceal the bruise. Justine works on staying awake through the night while Chris attempts to woo her to dinner. Ord wants to make sure he is not only paid but that his beard can remain perfectly manicured at all times.

There is some sort of feud between two of the henchmen that results in a fight fight between them. Despite the fact that this brawl has nothing to do with the business at hand, somehow gun are drawn and every member of the company ducks and hides while a free-for-all shootem-up happens. We get that these are greasy conmen, but suddenly sides are lost and bullets fly through the air like snowflakes in a blizzard.

That's the movie. Not only do the writers drop all interest that was crafted in the film's setup, but they somehow felt compelled to make a video game for a movie in which no one can aim, no one can die, and no one's motives are clear. I'm sure this movie could take the record for having the longest continuous gunfight in a film. That's not a record I think anyone should strive for. At first, it's funny to see Vernon attempt to shoot a man from across the way with a handgun (I guess because he has a funny accent), but 10 minutes later, the sound of gunfire is about as boring as utter silence.

I'm not sure what the ultimate point of the movie is, other than the fact that in the end it seems like each character decides to steal the money for themselves in an attempt at a get-rich-quick scheme. Justine shoots Chris even though it seemed like they were partners. Vernon shoots his sidekick even though they were established as being old friends. Ord shoots the driver who he had just been joking around with. For the most part people only die due to bleeding out. What are they shooting each other for again? Also, for an hour and 10 minutes of gunfire, I'm amazed everyone came with enough ammunition to keep their guns loaded.

I can see this movie being a guilty pleasure for folks who like witty one-liners and wall-to-wall action. For those people who have such low standards, I can only say that I feel genuinely bad for you.