Bang!...................Bang!..................

Rating: 8/10 (2 March 2012)

...is about as good an explanation of the structure of the film as I could come up with.
Firstly, if you want a conventional story, coupled interesting dialogue this and over the top performances this is not for you. This is a film of scenes and atmosphere above all else. The thing I was reminded of most when watching this was listening to your favourite album of which you love every single song, on a CD, where there are 3-4 second pauses between each song. Most individual scenes are absolutely top notch stuff being expertly composed, with camera work, lighting and all other aspects of mise en scene working in perfect unison to create a visual feast with some of the most effective use of sound since There Will be Blood. Yet the way the songs or scenes are linked is basically non-existent with long pauses that will either annoy or provide a moment of calm before continuing to the next scene. This may be a deal breaker for a lot of you and looking over previous reviews this is the most common complaint along with the awkward dialogue. It would be stupid of me to defend the dialogue or lack-there-of with an argument like 'Oh but it's supposed to be like that,' because substance is always more important than style and entertainment should not be sacrificed for anything, but this again serves a greater purpose. This pause works extremely well at creating a jarring effect against the scenes of passion, action and extreme violence giving these scenes overall impact far greater as a result. This is a film of individual moments and the overall experience (if that makes any sort of sense) and not how they are linked together. But to be honest, what do you remember of a film after you watch it? The individual moments and the overall experience. And these are astonishingly effective and will leave a lasting impression for years to come. This film will stand the test of time despite its flaws, while The Help or Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close will not.