If
the high energy of Knockaround Guys proves anything, it's that Vin Diesel works
best in a supporting role. Although it's quite obvious that this long delayed
film has been tinkered with in the editing room (resulting in a lack of character
development), the charismatic Diesel gets far more mileage out of this character
then he did as Xander Cage in the over bloated and all too silly XXX. Although
Knockaround Guys is hardly about Diesel's character, he's quite captivating every
moment he's on screen.
In
this noir/crime thriller, Barry Pepper plays the son of a reputable New York mob
boss. While this young man desperately tries to play life straight, he can't avoid
the baggage that comes with the family name. Tired of looking for a regular job,
he decides to follow in dad's footsteps. Unfortunately, everything that could
possibly go wrong during a routine money drop off, does go wrong.
Pepper
and his second generation of mob wannabe buddies, head off to a small town in
Montana to find their misplaced loot, but get more than they bargained for when
they come face to face with a local sheriff (played with glee by Tom Noonnan)
who has plans of his own.
Knockaround
Guys is similar in feel to Christopher McQuarrie's Way of the Gun from a couple
of years back. But while that film tried awfully hard to be hip, this movie opts
to take a straight forward approach. Knockaround Guys slips into the confines
of the familiar mobster movie, but it's energy and cast elevate the plot above
the norm.
Pepper
(who also appeared with Diesel in Saving Private Ryan) does a good job at displaying
the frustration of his situation. He's a good man trying to be bad, and the Battlefield
Earth star (OUCH!) is able to convey this in a subtle manner. As I've already
mentioned, Diesel is terrific as the heavy who will do anything to protect his
friends. As good as he is, Noonan steals the show as a local sheriff who's far
smarter than he might look. Noonan has been around for years slipping into the
shoes of all kinds of characters including the bad guy in Michael Mann's Manhunter.
Here, he really seems to be having a good time and I enjoyed the hell out of his
performance.
Veterans
Dennis Hopper and John Malkovich play a mob boss and his right hand man. Hopper
is very comfortable in his role, but Malkovich can't quite pull it off. He has
the energy, but I never really bought into him. Perhaps it was that less than
convincing Brooklyn accent.
Screenwriters/directors
Brian Koppelman and David Levien, keep things simple but energetic, and as I watched
Knockaround Guys, I found myself immensely entertained despite the "I've
seen this before" moments. It's too bad the studio didn't get behind this
film a little bit more because it's really well executed.
