Tropic Sprockets / Free Fire

By Ian Brockway

The always daring Ben Wheatley (Kill List) directs the tense and pulpy Drive-In thriller “Free Fire.” While at first it appears all sound and fury with little else, the film is actually a commentary of sorts on the futility of gun violence and the pettiness of material life.

This one-setting story takes place in a forbidding warehouse where a motley group of IRA members come to buy weapons. An addict, Stevo (Sam Riley) realizes to his horror that one of the weapons drivers Harry (Jack Reynor) is a man who beat him the night before. Stevo refuses to take part in the weapons deal. Harry in turn recognizes Stevo, who snarkily insults his cousin. Then, while feigning forgiveness for the whole matter, he shoots Stevo in the shoulder.  Diplomacy is shot to hell and a gun battle commences.

Rather than glorify gun violence or action, the characters are absurdly caught up in concepts of appearance and ego with money being the be all and end all, more important than survival.

The vivid actor Sharlto Copley is a narcissitic gangster named Vern who cares more about his expensive suit than he does about bloodletting. The ubiquitous Armie Hammer is on the scene too, preening constantly before any mirrored surface as he rhapsodizes about his firearms.

While this film may not be for all, the grim deapan humor saves the story from being a shlock fest and gives it something to say. The characters are stuck on the most trivial of matters and guns constantly malfunction and run out of potency. Through all the bloodlust, lies the concept that guns are cowardly and small things that really don’t do all that much to solve any problem or dilemma.

Actor Brie Larson headlines as a mercenary who is out for herself, of course. While there is no one to root for here with every human consumed with fantasies of money and power, the film pays ample tribute to the revenge gore of the 1970s before there was Tarrantino. And for those that don’t want to worry about the impact of guns and the foolish urges that we are driven by, “Free Fire” functions very well as a punchy and nervous tale  that will keep you edgy.

There is something sad and honest about the way the characters cling to their tiny pistols like lethal baby bottles becoming so close and intimate as to suckle them. This is the point. Without these puny killing instruments, many feel impotent. And as long as we have this collective idea, we are all cheapening, cheating and murdering our broader potential.

Write Ian at [email protected]

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