The Hollow Point

source: The Hollow Point

It amazes me how reviewers here on IMDb can watch the same movie and come to wildly differing opinions. I get it that someone may or may not like a particular film, that's fine. But when you have those who enjoy a film for it's story telling and others who state they couldn't follow it, I just have to wonder if paying attention might have solved that problem. So I guess that's what is at issue for this finely constructed tale. It's about a couple of law enforcement officers attempting to curb the trade in ammunition to a violent Mexican cartel that won't stop at anything to insure receipt of their bullets, or exact revenge on those who stand in their way. Right out of the gate, any film with Ian McShane is going to hold my interest. After seeing him for the first time as the violent saloon owner Al Swearingen in the HBO series "Deadwood", I've been a loyal fan. His character, aging sheriff Leland Kilbaught calls to mind the role of Tommy Lee Jones in "No Country for Old Men", the difference being that Kilbaught hasn't become the wistful lawman regretting the way times have changed and passed him by. He's still whaling away in the thick of things, even after a new sheriff is assigned to replace him when he takes out a drug mule working for Shep Diaz (Jim Belushi) and Ken Mercey (David H. Stevens). We never actually see the Mexican cartel gun lords calling the shots in the small, unnamed Arizona town where the story takes place. The tension is provided, again, in similar fashion to 'No Country's' relentless hit-man Javier Bardem, by the similarly motivated assassin called Atticus, forcefully portrayed by John Leguizamo. What was a bit convoluted though, was the idea that he was seeing a local woman named Lilly (Karli Hall), thus making him a known commodity in Los Reyes County. One would expect a villain like Atticus to be dispatched by his employers as someone who would remain largely anonymous. That the movie offers it's fair share of gory violence shouldn't come as a surprise, it's something one would expect with the attendant story line. The machete business on the part of Atticus is particularly nasty as new sheriff Wallace would remorsefully attest. The one painful scene that tickled me was when Marla (Lynn Collins) took the sledge hammer to Shep's foot. Before it happened, I was thinking to myself that she should go with it, and if I saw it coming, Shep should have too. I bet that hurt like hell. The thought I had to ponder when Wallace eventually put down Atticus had to do with Leland begging him to hand the gun over and not reduce himself to the level of the bad guys. My version of the story would have that happen so Leland could do the honors, thereby allowing Wallace to make a getaway without the killing on his conscience. Leland seemed to be the kind of guy who wouldn't have cared one way or the other. At least Leland got some measure of revenge with the final scene, but for that you'll have to catch the movie. You know, as a big Johnny Cash fan, I was surprised that the song played over the closing credits was one I never heard before - 'God's Gonna Cut You Down'. It fit well enough, probably even better than the one I would have picked - 'When The Man Comes Around'.

It is a cop film that's set in in a small US town along the Mexican Border. Focused on the illegal arms supply, the two cops, one is an honest and the other one a controversial get into a deep trouble after something went wrong among the smugglers while dealing it. So one of their men was sent to eliminate those involved in it and that's where these two cops are caught in a crossfire. They have left no choice but to fight for the peace in the town. The Idea for the film was inspired from real, but I kind of felt it was unrealistic. Mainly because I'm not from that part of the world, so it was more an entertaining film than learning anything about all the illegal activities or the heroism from the cops. The actors were decent, including Patrick Wilson, but Ian McShane looked much better than anybody in the film for his daring role. It was a simple story that takes place like within 2-3 days. Some parts of the film were unexpected, but those scenes did not save the film. Because it was entirely 'a series of event' based film than properly developed storyline. Overall the setting was good and once watchable with a low anticipation. So for those who are choosy, can be skipped it, because not worthy, other than that it's not that bad film in my opinion. 5/10

This film wants to be No Country for Old Men if it was directed by a second rate Robert Rodriguez. A Mexican cartel arms deal goes wrong leaving several dead and some money missing. Ian McShane is a wily but ageing small town lawman in Arizona, Patrick Wilson is his straight laced replacement, the new sheriff in town. They both join forces as a mysterious cartel hit-man (John Leguizamo) arrives with a literal hit-list, the trouble he is also a police officer. John Belushi is a sleazy used car salesman who seems to be doing the Cartel's dirty work. This is a gritty neo noir B film, convoluted and viscerally violent, at one point Wilson loses his hand in a machete attack but it also comes across as confusing, hollow and silly at times.

This is an interesting picture, with heaps of violence and a cinematographic mindfulness that is wonderful. The looks of the scenes? Great, the contents of the story however shaking and rambling, it sounds like a an old car and the recipe is a pinch of Peckinpah cross-pollinated with Schwarzenegger. Too little irony and the end is scruffy though s smile worth. BUT?... The equalizer had more functional violence. A missed opportunity. The acting is at times not convincing, apart from McShane whose role could have been bigger. A little bit more of the grand vistas in the picture and a better storyboard would have helped considerably.

I'm giving this movie a 6 because I really like Patrick Wilson. I'd watch him in anything. Being from Arizona, I'm always amused that movies set here are full of people who have ridiculous southern drawls. Evidently we always live in squalor, and it's usually squalor in trailer parks. It's so primitive in Arizona border towns that there is no backup for police, or even ambulances for transport for the wounded. This movie reminded me a lot of No Country for Old Men, except that it's not nearly as good. Granted, there were some subtle differences. None of the characters were in any way likable, and a few of the bad guys did get killed. In real life the Cartels probably just buy ammo from Sweden. I hope that the hospitals in Arizona border towns take better care of their patients than this one did. I fully expected Patrick Wilson's character to keel over at any time from Gangrene. It was a shame that they were too lazy to go look for his severed hand. There was one great line in the movie when Patrick Wilson told his ex-wife to skedaddle. He says, "I always said you deserved better, but I never said that I love you...." What a guy. That being said, I'd watch it again, just to enjoy his acting.

"The Hollow Point" is a movie that feels lazily and cynically assembled by a committee. It looks good, has some really violent moments, and some dependable stars. Who cares if it doesn't make sense, or you don't care about any of the characters? It becomes clear early on that you don't need to make any investment into the characters not only because the movie doesn't adequately explain who they are or what they want, but also because you know they are going to get maimed and mutilated in some pretty gruesome and graphic ways, that only the special effects people seem to understand the repercussions of. Case in point: early on, our hero, if that's who he is, is attacked by a madman wielding a machete, who hacks off one of his limbs. This is depicted every bit as violently as you might expect. Does he go into shock, pass out from blood loss, and die? Does he manage to get help, go to hospital, recover, learn to live without the limb, quit the police force, because I'm pretty sure a one-armed-man would be ineligible for service, and live out his days on disability? No. He apparently drags himself to the house of his partner - if that's who he is - bleeds on the guy's walls, and waits politely until sun up. When he finally goes to hospital, he asks wryly about the chance of the limb being found and reattached, to which the doctor or nurse makes an almost cruelly flippant response. It's a grim-dark, bleak, nihilistic thriller, see? See? Except you couldn't really blame her, because it was an idiotic question, but nowhere near the idiocy he showed by not going to a hospital right away. She should have found the limb and slapped him with it.

The sound effects/soundtracks were unbelievable. The filming was so fresh and new, didn't know what to expect. My husband and I loved it. I truly love shows were you cant predict what is going to happen. This one delivered as a true mystery all the way to the end. Wilson is fantastic. Belushi was excellent, good to see him again. The guns and gun sound effects were off the chart. I would have loved to have seen this on the big screen. No spoiler alerts, you have watch this one on your own. Belushi can truly act the serious bad guy. I had to take pain medicine during the show because the movie hurt so bad. The sound and visual is what made this movie.

This was a very unusual movie, and I am certain it will not be to everyone's taste. I am not a professional critic but to me this is almost what I envision to be "art-house" in a modern western genre. What I loved is the movie has lots of atmosphere, intrigue, fine acting and many unexpected moments. I do think it gave up a couple of its secrets a touch to early, but I don't believe that detracts from the overall story. There is suspense and action, and some pretty gory outcomes along the path to the conclusion. And there are at least 3 wtf moments while all that plays out. Overall, I really enjoyed. I live for action movies, but they don't all have to be over-the-top massive cgi efforts. This was more grounded action but for me very enjoyable nonetheless. This movie made me think of Get the Gringo with Mel Gibson from a couple of years ago. The Hollow Point lacks the humour of that movie, but it is generally in the same genre dealing with the rot that is the USA/Mexican border, the grit and seediness of the area and all the trouble of existing in it. IF you liked Get the Gringo you will like this movie - they are definitely not the same, but there is in my mind some style similarities. Anyways, its definitely not a 5.5 movie (the current overall rating on IMDb when I write this). I have sat through enough movies of that caliber to know! I give it a solid 7 to 7.5 for overall movie value.

'The Hollow Point (2016)', a relatively low-budget and non-descript neo-western, includes a couple of riskily ballsy surprises, relies on a few entertainingly scene-chewing performances and is absolutely beautifully shot (I seriously can't stress how staggeringly good the flick looks considering its size and stature). However, its narrative is so haphazardly constructed and lacking in almost any form of thematic through-line that it's actually quite a challenge to even understand how each element of the plot ties together, let alone become invested in any of the story's events or the characters caught up in them. Seriously, there are several core players whose importance doesn't become apparent until very late in the game. For example, the lead love interest isn't established as such before the third act and, even then, her connection with the protagonist isn't ever explored. There are also times when people are introduced in the very same scene during which they play a major part in a plot-point that asks you to either care about or previously know them. It's really this fragmented feel that kills the piece's pacing and reduces audience engagement, as it transforms the affair into an utterly passive and, at times, frankly frustratingly confusing experience. It ultimately lacks a point and is generally pretty hollow. 4/10.