JOE GOES TO THE MOVIES : 2 GUNS

(Singing) If I had 43 Million Dollars

(Singing) If I had 43 Million Dollars

WOW! AICHEE WOW WAW! When you think about it that's an awful amount of greenbacks to bring out the dark intentions of anyone wanting a piece of that pie.

It's  also wonderful and inciting to know that in 2 Guns there are no moral principles or any decent respect of humanity shown but becomes a rat race to the riches in a Modern Day Wild West shoot out.

The dirty players involved a interesting mix of those above the law and those breaking the law.

Batting first in the lineup is Papi Greco (James Edward Olmos), leader of the Mexican Cartel, who decapitates all to show off his masculinity and his lust for power.

Batting Second is the crooked CIA agent  (Bill Paxton) who charges rent to the Cartel to turn a blind eye to their operation so he can collect his riches.

Batting third,  in the  scumbag hole is the Naval Intelligence Officer (James Marsden)  who catches wind of the CIA's operation to set a plot to rob the bank to keep it all for himself. Finally Batting Fourth, in the cleanup spot is the DEA whose job is to cover up the robbery plotted by Stigman (Wahlberg) and Trench (Washinghton).

With this crooked cast thrown in a shark tank vowing for that main prize, its just a matter of time before these parties collide in all out shoot fest.

The two who are vowing to pit the bad guys vs the bad guys is the deadly duo team of Bobby Trench and Marcus Stigman.  Both are on the case to bring down Papi and his Drug Cartel Empire .  They both think one of them is a crooked criminal. .  However, when one discovers of each other's undercover exploits it further raises the bar of the movie exponentially.  They both still oppose of each other's methods out of jealous but remained united as one against those who committed wrongly against them.  When the clock is ticking and all the Dark Forces have their scopes set on Stiman and Trench they know they must unite or die.

 Stigman's Commanding Officer Quince (James Marsden) , wants Stigman off duty to cover up his tracks in the robbery by having him killed.

Then there is DEA Agent Deb (Paula Patton), who is Trench's handler, part time lover,  who was there after Stiman's arrest , working with the Naval Intelligence Officer, to collect the money and make it disappear.

The last of the who's who of corrupted scumbags is CIA Agent Earl (Bill Paxton) , a sadistic Country Boy, with a lust for torture involving thumbtacks on notecards and Russian Roulette.  He is the soul owner of  the $43 Million for his CIA services rendered in providing protection to all Drug Operations and the price is right for him to collect on what is so rightfully his with brute force.  Neither Stigman nor Trench are aware of his involvement but have no less than 24 hours to clear their good names or forever be hunted as bank robbers in a crime they didn't commit.

Screenwriter Blake Masters who adapted the comic book series by Steven Grant  does a brilliant job in combining all of the characters backgrounds, expositions , and intentions in way that progresses the movie forward.  The brilliance of his penmanship rise when  the audience get lost in many of the plot twists , turns, and loyalties to one another. These discoveries keep us guessing and have us thirsting for more.  The relationships between each character is never made clear but it doesn't matter.  What matters and what we get out of this is that our system is corrupt and the only way to defeat a crook is act like a crook by whatever means necessary to expose the truth.  Sometimes you have  got to get your fingers a little dirty if you want to get ahead.

Director Baltasar Kormakur (Contraband) keeps the action scene short, concise, and sweet that puts the audience in the driver seat.  Knowing when to make use of a wide angle shot when the Navy building blows up to a wild west shoot at the end makes for a entertaining modern cowboy film.  It's a rough and violent film but plays upon it with amusement against those crooked individuals who deserve what's coming to them.

The contrasting of opposing performances by Washinghton and Wahlberg is what makes this film work.   Washinghton is the senior partner whose been out in the field too longer who strategizes and does things with a plan.  Wahlberg on the other hand is like grown kid much like his previous role as Detective Allen Gamle in The Other Guys .  He is excited to have a partner, thinks before he acts or speaks and undresses every women he sees.  The two constantly bitch and moan like Riggs and Murtaugh in Lethal Weapon  but its the genius of this film of how these two opposing forces can overcome each other's differences and  pool their strengths and skills that really bolsters this film.

FINAL RATING :  5/5