Pawn Shop Chronicles (2013)

Powerful

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

At first it was like a film using Tarantino vocabulary. Or you could just say it was pretty messy in all three stories... But the end, that was worth watching: all of a sudden everything makes sense - each one of these crazy stories finds its place for the final American show. Like somebody said "in this completely crazy lottery ticket-magic 8 ball-total fluke economy that is America, telling jokes pays well". I am not sure most people will appreciate Mr. Minarovich's brilliant work.

"This ring belonged to my wife. I want you to tell me who sold you this ring."Wayne Kramer, director of Running Scared and The Cooler, brings us this anthology film where three separate stories are all connected in some way to a local southern pawn shop. The screenplay was written by Adam Minarovich, and there lies the problem of why this movie couldn't quite grasp the spirit of the film it was trying to imitate: Pulp Fiction. Minarovich and Kramer are no Tarantino and this is even more proof of why Tarantino really is a genius. These grindhouse B movies are no easy task to imitate and mixing comedy and shocks doesn't always work. The result can often be sickening rather than amusing and I am tired of these pointless and ultra violent films. Trying to be edgy and witty the film ends up being boring, mean spirited, and dull. It's a shame because a decent cast was wasted here: Paul Walker, Matt Dillon, Brendan Fraser, Vincent D'Onofrio, Elijah Wood, Ashlee Simpson, and Lukas Haas. They all play stereotypical rednecks, meth addicts, skinheads, or Elvis impersonators. The first two stories are ultra violent, while the third one is pointless. There were some interesting ideas thrown here and there, but overall the film fell flat and never managed to seduce me. This is an insane film, but I imagine it could have a small fan base, it just isn't for everyone. It was disturbing and dull with over the top crazy and mean characters.

I rated it so high people, I know, let me explain. I thought the movie followed a format, such as when one scene starts, it just keeps going and going.... In order of the best acting performances: #1 Matt Dillon, then Brandon Fraser, Paul Walker (different acting style for him),Vincent Denofrio, Elijah Wood (he loves those eerie roles, such as w/ Sin City he was evil), Thomas Cage (a hero in this movie), Kevin Ranklin, Ashley Simpson (I knew it was her when I 1st saw her!). One of the best and refreshing movies I've seen in a long time. This is just one pure high energy ride bcz of the actors just really got into their roles. WHoever picked this cast was an expert, this is a huge monumental achievement, in my opin. It has an intense script, drugs, violence, shootings, every scene is packed with superb actors with a plan of action. I'd like to hear what Quentin T has to say about this movie.

I gave it 2 because there are some funny moments but moments do not make a good film nor even a relatively interesting one. Kramer is showing us his very own rather disjointed comprehension of reality. Other reviews have pointed to the non interaction of the plot sequences but this is actually the least problematic with this attempt at dark humour. What is really annoying about this film is the stereotypes he uses to convey his liberal and very confused agenda. It is insulting to almost everybody except the holy in-crowd of Hollywood and of course the jews (this is a very small part of the film but it rings big bells). Rednecks and trailer trash seem to be his favorite ICONS. Pathetic really for a guy who is himself such a misery of a man. Google him if you do not believe what I am referring to here. Back to the film: the cast is actually the only saving grace but then when you only have split moment scenes you can afford to be brilliant. Really great acting comes from sustained performances throughout a challenging period of a plot which this film actually does not really have. That in itself is OK but then what is the point of the exercise? Good question without an answer. There is another disturbing element and it is not only with this film but with the connections that this Kramer is or has already made with a certain Hollywood group that smells so much like LIBERALISM gone mad. His future attempts will be avoided if we are so unlucky as to have any.