Let's Do Some Carnage:

**1/2

Clay Pigeons is another of those twisted black comedies/thrillers where all kinds of nasty things happen that are supposed to make us laugh and wince at the same time, like Peter Berg's wildly entertaining Very Bad Things. Pigeons is unable to get it completely right, but still succeeds in keeping the audience entertained. Matthew L. Healy's script gives us plenty of intriguing twists and turns right from the very first scene, and Dobkin's direction moves at a great pace and has moments of inspired filmmaking. If anything, Dobkin tries too hard to be bleakly witty, with a hell of a lot of music throughout the film, and used in the darker moments; when Lester slaughters Amanda, Elvis plays on the soundtrack. But the music is good and well selected. The movie has several injokes and references that are funny, in a self-indulgent kind of way. The most obvious one is that Shelby is watching Alien on videotape, which is the famed project of Clay Pigeons producer Ridley Scott. Look closely next to the TV in Shelby's room and you'll see copies of True Romance and Swingers. Romance was the 1993 effort of executive producer Tony Scott, and Swingers, was of course, Vince Vaughn's breakout role. In one dinner scene, the radio is playing the country-toned song "Moody River". This song was used over the end credits of Tony's underrated action fest The Last Boy Scout.

The small town characters boarder on the stereotypes, especially with the slutty, sex-crazed Amanda and the moronic deputy, unsubtly called Barney. Maybe if all the characters had been played totally straight the jokes would have been more effective. There are pretty sizeable holes in logic in Clay Pigeons, and the final result is more than a little unbelievable. Phoenix is okay in the lead, though he sometimes seems to be sleep walking through scenes. Everyone else in the film seems to be in on the humorous black edge, yet Phoenix plays it too real. Vaughn's performance is a matter of taste as he gets the broadest part in the film. Lester is clearly insane and vicious, yet he comes across as a harmless goofball at times. The actor plays more of a parody than any actual person, but if the audience buys into it, they'll enjoy him. Wilson manages to keep his character of the sheriff away from clichés with a warm and likeable performance, and it's him that actually gets the movies closing punchline twist. I also really liked Phil Morris as Shelby's partner. Morris only has 8 lines (his silence is a running joke), yet the actor makes the audience believe he's incredibly intelligent, taking everything in and doesn't feel the need to talk until he has something to say.

Blunt Review

Bluntly Speaking? Clay Pigeons is an intensely creepy, slower, film with some great actors doing some rich characters. CP is an indie film with all the little hot buttons, and key phrases movie buffs love to throw around like "character driven," "intriguing cinematography" and an "ensemble cast" that'll make your eyes stare without a need to blink. Plus, there's a big old heaping helpin' of oddball.

Story goes ...Clay Bidwell's (Joaquin Phoenix) out shooting bottles with his best buddy when things get a tad bizarre. Their Sunday ends with Clay learning a thing or two about friendships, big mouthed vixens with pure evil in their hearts, and his education on the a to z's of planning a perfect cover-up. By sundown, his best friend is dead and Clay may be the prime suspect unless he plays it cool.

He figures things can't get much worse than that afternoon. Never say that, or even thunk it. Now his best friend's new widow, Amanda (Georgina Cates), decides she done like her this Clay fellow and is none too keen on his running around with another gal.....She even makes a sultry attempt at corralling the young buck at the local watering hole and he causes a bit of a scene by declining her feminine offerings via a strong back hand across her lily white face.

She storms out and he's thinkin' the night's sinking into the pig slop when a tall cowboy with a silly grin and a knack for charmin' the pants off folks asks him to share his pool table.

His new pool hall friend's a looker named Lester Long ( Vince—cowboy clothes do this man good girls— Vaughn). Ol' Lester shares some common interests with the boys; backlake fishin', chick killin', and long neck beers. Poor Clay all he wants is his life back, but Lester's hell bent on havin' some serial killer fun with the locals.

Lester's works are not unnoticed by the FBI and they're closing in. Agent Shelby (Janeane Garofalo), who's followed the killing to Clay's hometown, has noticed a particular pattern the killer has with his smokes that ultimately will prove to be his undoing.....maybe.

The performances are simply wonderful. Joaquin Phoenix is complete perfection as always. Love this guy. Janeane Garofalo is about five foot tall, and every inch is filled with natural talent. Then there's Mr. Vaughn. Mmmmm, is that one man God's made right. I'm going to have to use the "p" word — patience— whilst I wait for this to come to dvd! Oh, yeah there's a scene between Vincent and Georgina Cates that'll have your eyebrow straight up and erect with attention. Trust me.....and excuse me I have to take another ice shower...Okay, primal desires aside this fellow Vin's got real talent. He's super eerie and exact as Lester the twinkling maniac. Can't wait to see how his career shapes up.

Get out and see this. It's going to be harder to find, but it'll be worth it. I've picked up the soundtrack as well, it's great for a long drive down a dark country road...

Snack Recommendation: Johnny Walker Black and Cherry Pie

posted by MaryAnn Johanson on September 28, 1998