A carrot-chomping drifter and a baby-saving shootout: the most audacious action film ever?
In short: Inspired by a scene in John Woo's Hard Boiled, Michael Davis crafted a hyperactive, gun-centric spectacle that defies logic. Starring Clive Owen as a mysterious drifter and Paul Giamatti as a sadistic assassin, this 2007 film turned a simple rescue mission into a relentless, over-the-top ballet of bullets and heavy metal.
The film's origins trace back to 2000, when writer-director Michael Davis sought to create an action movie defined by firearms rather than explosions. After studios initially rejected the project following the Columbine High School massacre, Davis spent years as an independent filmmaker. He eventually secured funding from New Line Cinema by pitching an elaborate animatic he created himself using a Wacom tablet and iMovie.
The plot centers on Smith, a carrot-eating former black-ops soldier who inadvertently becomes the protector of a newborn baby. He discovers a conspiracy involving a senator who requires bone marrow transplants, leading to a series of increasingly absurd confrontations. The film intentionally leans into cartoonish tropes, with Davis acknowledging that the dynamic between Smith and his nemesis, Hertz, was modeled after the classic rivalry between Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd.
Upon its September 2007 release, the film struggled commercially, earning $26.8 million worldwide against a $39 million budget. Critics were divided; while some praised its audacious energy and performances, others dismissed it as a hollow, noisy exercise in excess. The film also faced controversy in the United Kingdom, where regulators prohibited promotional posters featuring the leads with guns, citing concerns about glorifying violence during a period of rising gun crime.
Despite its box-office failure, the film has maintained a cult following for its sheer commitment to its own preposterous premise. It remains a singular entry in the action genre, characterized by its refusal to take itself seriously and its relentless pace. Whether viewed as a masterpiece of kinetic filmmaking or a chaotic mess, it stands as a bold experiment in stylized, non-stop action.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Shoot 'Em Up (film)
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