Muldoon's Fantastic Fest RED Review

So I just got out of a screening of RED here at Fantastic Fest and to put it simply - it was fucking awesome. I didn't really know what to expect with this movie going in and actually almost gave up my ticket to catch another screening, since this is hitting theaters pretty soon. Thank God I didn't, because this movie is absolutely not what I thought it would be. I was expecting a mess of mishandled cameos, with mature super stars awkwardly holding guns. I couldn't have been any more off base. Each and every actor in this film kills it. Bruce Willis hasn't been this effortlessly badass since SIN CITY. The movie starts off with Willis's character "Frank Moses" moping around an empty house, taking out the trash, eating breakfast, and repeatedly calling in about a missing check (just to talk to the beautiful voice on the other side, the lady he's been calling for quite some time and plans to meet up with soon.) The day passes and soon Moses is in bed... He wakes up and BAM, the shit hits the fan. A strike team of assassins busts into his house and a without warning unloads clips left and right. I know what you might be thinking "Been there, done that..." Well, first off don't be so cynical, and second off trust me, director Robert Schwentke found a way to make it charming and fresh. After dodging his attackers, Moses shows up at the apartment of the beautiful customer service lady (played by the gorgeous Mary-Louise Parker) and informs her that her life is now in danger and she needs to run away with her. Together with a little investigating they discover that the hired group that shot up Moses's house had just murdered a New York reporter who was "on to something." That leads Moses to find a list, a list with his name on it along with eleven others, including his friend Joe Matheson. Sarah and Moses take off to visit him (Morgan Freeman's character) currently living out his days in an old folks home. Without giving any real spoilers or practically walking you through the entire movie scene by scene, Willis and Freeman set out to "put the crew back together." What ensues and who they discover is behind the plot to kill eveyone on that list is nothing short of popcorn adrenalin filled fun. If you take OCEAN'S 11, WANTED, DIE HARD and toss in some unforgettable performances (and imagery) then you've got RED. Malkovich is absolutely hilarious. Willis is a badass. Helen Mirren handles her weapons as beautifully as you could imagine. Karl Urban absolutely owns in his role as an increasingly conflicted CIA field agent. (This is a far cry from Bones and makes the upcoming DREDD flick all the more promising). The film's an intelligent take on otherwise formulaic story. I really dug this movie, and wouldn't hesitate to put it in my top 10 for the year. Fun flick, check it out. - Muldoon

Previous Fantastic Fest 2010 Reviews From Muldoon: RED HILL And BUNRAKU