STAND UP GUYS


US, 2012, 95 minutes, Colour.
Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, Alan Arkin, Julianna Margulies, Mark Margolis, Lucy Punch, Addison Timlin.
Directed by Fisher Stevens.

Stand Up Guys is a wry comedy, focusing on some hitmen, getting old, looking at their past.

Al Pacino gives a very rounded performance as Val, who has just spent 28 years in jail for shooting, accidentally, the son of the gangster, Claphands (Mark Margolis).He is met at the jail by his old friend, Doc, Christopher Walken in a quietly intense performance.

Val is no saint and wants immediately to go to a brothel, fairly crass and crude in his attitudes and expressions. Doc takes him to an old brothel which is now being run by Wendy, Lucy Punch, taking over from her mother. He meets an Eastern European prostitute but has to return with pharmaceutical help. Later they come back to the brothel with Hirsch, Alan Arkin, their old getaway driver.

The point is that Doc has been commissioned by Claphands to eliminate Val for revenge’s sake, the death of his son, by 10.00 am the next day. This preoccupies Doc all night, although Val soon indicates that he knows that this is the case.

They occupy the time with a visit to hospital, picking up Hirsch, going on a spree, some shootings, Hirsch’s death, the return to hospital to see his nurse daughter, Jiulianna Margulies, and then burying their friend.

There is a human touch with Doc going to the diner each morning to see his granddaughter, Addison Timson, who does not know who he is.

As might be anticipated, the men take the revenge into their own hands and go into a blaze of glory shootout against Claphands and his thugs.

The film is directed by actor, producer, Fisher Stevens.

1. A comedy about hitmen, comedy about age, comedy about fate, breaking through fate?

2. The strong cast?

3. The title, expectations, hitmen, their friendships, codes, manipulation by gangsters?

4. Val, coming out of jail, meeting Doc, so long in jail? Friendship with Doc, his car, going to the apartment, Val thinking it too small? Going to the brothel, the encounter with Wendy, the prostitute, the need for Viagra, going to the pharmacy, taking the medication? The return to the brothel, sexual prowess? Going for the meal? Meeting Alex, the later revelation that she was Doc’s granddaughter? The big meal, taking the gangsters’ car, picking up Hirsch in the old people’s home, out on the town, the threats to the mobsters, Hirsch and the driveaway car, his collapse and death? Val previously at the hospital, the treating of his erection? The return, Hirsch’s daughter? The decision to go to the cemetery, digging a grave, the speech about him, her response?

5. Val knowing that Doc had the contract, Val accepting this, noting the time, occupying the time, concern about Val’s daughter and granddaughter? Fate and acceptance?

6. Doc, hitman, visiting Val in jail, retiring, his art in paintings? Sunsets? The quiet life, routine, going to the diner to see Alex? Meeting Val, keeping him company, the diner, the brothel, the memory of Wendy’s mother, the pharmacy, meals, taking Val to hospital, picking up Hirsch, the memories, the hit on the gangsters, therir car? Hirsch’s death, the funeral, the time to kill Val? The phone call to Claphands, his thugs turning up at the diner, later, shooting them?

7. The episode with Sylvia, at the diner, taking up her cause, the rape, identifying the warehouse, the gangster brothers, the attack, Sylvia and her vengeance?

8. Hirsch, the getaway car, old people’s home, picki p, going out, the visit to the brothel, in the car, his death, funeral?

9. Claphands, the death of his son, vengeance, the 28 years, the commission for Doc, the phone calls and the reminders, his thugs? Doc and the appeal for mercy, the refusal?

10. The character of Wendy, at the brothel, manager, the girls, another, friendly, the drink with Doc? Hirsch’s visit?

11. Hirsch’s daughter, at the hospital, knowing the men, memories of the birthday party and Doc, helping with Val, the death of her father, the cemetery, being moved?

12. Alex, at the diner, pleasant, taking orders, conversation, the discovery of her grandfather, the pictures, his giving her the apartment?

13. Val and Doc, the time, the final decision, guns blazing, the thugs, Claphands? Going out in what they knew best?