Seven Psychopaths – Ultra Violent Absurdist Comedy

**** out of *****

Running time: 110 minutes

MPAA rating: R for strong violence, bloody images, pervasive language, sexuality/nudity and some drug use.

Martin McDonagh writes plays and screenplays as dark and as funny as the absurdist comedies of Luis Bunuel and Stanley Kubrick. He is best known for such theatrical works as The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Lonesome West, The Lieutenant of Inishmore and The Pilowman, all of which were nominated for Tony Awards as best play.

Not content to be only a leading playwright, McDonagh has also become focused on the craft of directing and writing films. His first effort, In Bruges, was a quirky character study of two Irish hit men (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) who are forced by their boss (Ralph Fiennes) to hide out in the medieval Belgian city after the younger gangster kills a young boy by mistake.

In Bruges, which matched tragedy with suspense and McDonagh's trademark dark humor, has become a cult favorite. It looks as if his new film, Seven Psychopaths, may become one as well.

This is the story of a lesser Hollywood screenwriter with writer's block (Colin Farrell), his friendship with an inept duo of small-time dog-nappers (Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell) and their conflict with a lunatic gangster who doesn't take kindly to having his cuddly Shih-Tzu stolen (Woody Harrelson). It also includes serial killings, extortion, prostitution, gruesome murders, self-immolation, and a lot of memorably funny characters and situations.

McDonagh has a pitch-perfect ear for language. Every word from a brief dialogue exchange to an extended, multi-character conversation rings true. His characters are, at turns, witty, insightful, philosophical and just plain goofy.

And the casting is as inspired as the dialogue. Farrell and Walken shine in their roles, which support the central structure of the film. But the real powerhouses here are Rockwell and Harrelson. Their parts may appear to be one-dimensional buffoons, but these gifted actors turn in two of the year's most memorable performances.