2 GUNS
US, 2013, 109 minutes, Colour.
Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Bill Paxton, Edward James Olmos, Paula Patton, James Marsden.
Directed by Balthazar Kormakur.
There is no subterfuge about the title of this film. It is certainly an action show, with many of the touches of the popular thriller.
The two guns of the title are Denzel Washington and Mark Walberg. We see them at the opening in a diner, scouting out a bank in preparation for a robbery. Washington plays the cool sardonic type. Wahlberg is the cheeky comedian. In fact, the film is often funny, the two stars playing off each other very well, Washington more the straight man, Wahlberg with the cheeky one liners. And they keep up an amusing pace throughout the whole film.
This is one of those films where it is better to be tight-lipped about the plot developments. Perhaps, suffice it to say, that appearances are not what may seem, and there are quite some twists as the plot goes on. This involves Edward James Olmos as a fairly ruthless drug lord, with headquarters in Mexico and a nice quiet suburban home just across the border in the United States - where that bank-to-be-robbed is to be found. Then there is Bill Paxton, coming on strongly about the robbery, after the $43,000,000 plus that was taken away, raises the expectation of the robbers who thought it would be three million dollars. Paxton can be very nasty in his dealings with and managers, vets who help people on the run, and the drug lords.
And then there is the director of the DEA, his assistant, Paula Patton, who controls operations but who does not come up with the help initially promised which leads, of course, to some sticky situations. There is also the naval officer, played by James Marsden, all smiles but ruthless.
All the review can do, while not revealing the plot details, is to whet the appetite of readers who may be attracted by this kind of action story, shootouts, as well as the stars. If they do see 2 Guns, they probably won’t be disappointed.
1. The title and focus? The two men and their rivalry, collaboration? Guns and weapons? Shootouts?
2. The film based on graphic novels, the exaggeration and characters, action, situations, dialogue? The musical score?
3. The strong cast, a different odd couple? In action, in comedy? The director and his background from Iceland and its film industry?
4. The plot, the setting up of the robbery, going to the drug lord, the issue of the DEA involvement, the navy, the CIA?
5. A film entertainingly exploiting appearances, people not being as the seem, the twists?
6. Mexico, Texas, the border, style in Mexico, drug empires and drug lords? The contrast with the small American town, quiet, homes, the small bank?
7. Bobby and Stig at the diner, the introduction to them, their styles, Stig as cheeky, Bobby as the straight man, sardonic? With the waitress, the order, changing it, the chatter, Stig watching the bank, Bobby scouting out the bank and the possibilities for the robbery? Stig and his winking?
8. One week earlier, the two, going to Mexico, the confrontation with the drug lord, the dead man and his head in the bag, the interview, the shooting of the chickens in the ground? Getting cash rather than drugs? Spoiling the sting? Atmosphere of hostility? The information about the weekly transfer of money, to the bank, the drug lord in his American home, his family? The quiet bank?
9. The plan to rob the bank, Bobby and Stig seeming to be criminals? Bobby and his going to see Deb, the sexual relationship, the past, her new boyfriend? The plans? The discussions with the boss, working undercover, the threat to withdraw Bobby from his undercover work, his keeping the robbery to himself, only telling Deb?
10. The repeat of the scene in the diner? the customers, the explosions and Stig’s work and style? In the bank, the customers, the manager, giving up the money, more than $43,000,000, the arranged back-up not arriving, the mystery about Deb and her promise? Going into the desert, the confrontation between the two, the DEA badge, Stig thinking Bobby was a dirty officer, shooting him? Bobby wandering through the desert, getting the vehicle, going to the vet and being treated?
11. Bobby, the mystery of Deb not turning up, going to the hotel, seeing her going in the elevator to Harvey? The irony of Harvey being the naval head? The connection, the plan, the money?
12. Stig, the navy connection, their wanting the money, the officer being Harvey, taking Stig into the desert, to shoot him, his plan and escape?
13. Earl and his henchmen, tough gangster style, the irony of his being CIA? Taking the money from the drug lords, bribes, banking the money around the country? His hold over the drug lords, the interviews, going to see the vet, tracking down Stig and Bobby? His threats to the bank manager? Going to the DEA boss, killing him? Going to the drug lord?
14. Bobby and Stig, Deb and the search, finding out Stig was navy? the results? Bobby and the warehouse, Stig with the gun, the phone call, the warnings about the assassin and the escape? The bond between the two, family or not? Buddies or not?
15. Further complications, the pursuits, the plan, crashing into the navy base, Bobby and the confrontation with Harvey, setting the fires, Bobby wearing the uniform?
16. The drug lord, his taking Deb? The build-up to the three-fold confrontation? The setup, the argument, the end and her death, the shootings? The explosions and the destruction of the money?
17. The film’s attitude towards American agencies, criminal activity, cover-ups?
18. Not all the money destroyed? Further adventures of the odd couple?
