I'm with you on this one

never heard of this movie, but excited for some more Screened goodness 

See...the movie peaked too early with the whole "fuck start her face" thing and then it was downhill from there....I need to re-watch it though.  It's been years, but all I can remember is relative boredom at the time.

This was contrived, hipster, faux-Peckinpah bullshit. Clever dialogue, but not an ounce of honest grit in it.
 
Put this crap alongside something like BRING ME THE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA to see true diseased grittiness that makes you feel dirty.

@Alex said:

" @CashBailey:   You're talking about one of my favorite movies of all time there with Alfredo Garcia. Sorry, no, I respectfully disagree on the hipster faux-grit there. There is some harsh shit in this movie, and I very much appreciated what it was aiming to do. "

It's all good, baby.
 
Maybe I need to watch this again. I thought it was derivative nonsense even way back when. Not an ounce on the movies it seemed to be in tribute of.
 
Ryan Phillipe ain't no Warren Oates.

I liked this movie too. Definitely not quite as much as you, Alex, but that opening scene is one that has stuck with me for years, as with a number of other scenes. The gun fight where the Parker and Longbaugh repeatedly get out of the moving truck, the scene of them playing Hearts, the scene in the convenience store, the scene of the old hit man playing Russian Roulette by himself.  
 
This movie is really just a great collection of clever, gritty, and memorable scenes, at least for the first two thirds. I think the back third kind of falls apart for me, but I still recommend it to anyone who I know likes gritty, violent crime/action movies in the style of Hong Kong-era John Woo.

Interesting piece. I never saw the movie and only vaguely remember the title. I'm not one to watch extremely violent movies. There's enough violence in the world already. Not my kind of escapism. Yes, I know they're actors and not really getting hurt, but still. Not my glass of Coke Zero. 
 
As for a movie I would be almost ashamed to admit liking, I'm coming out of the closet and admitting I liked Judge Dredd. Sure, Rod Schneider was annoying in a Joe Pesci in Lethal Weapon kind of way, but I liked the over-the-top campy nature of everything. I thought Stallone at least looked the roll, and the movie didn't really take itself too seriously. It was good, silly fun.

I always appreciate films where the director recognizes how firearms actually operate, and the actors handle them correctly.

Never seen the movie, but it does seem fairly competent, although the film seems to take swearing as its main use of grit.

I remember seeing a trailer for this right before it came out and then completely forgot about it.  I may see it within the next couple of months.  Movies I would defend: The Running Man, Screamers.

I totally dug this movie when I saw it in the theater. I don't recall it being too bad in terms of violence, I thought it was kind of funny actually, almost satirical. Dude, who is that on Alex's shirt?

Definitely not a movie I will ever watch, but it does look hilarious.  Seeing them punch Silverman's character in the face was so satisfying.  Not that I don't love Silverman, but I am a feminist who believes in sexual equality.  If a woman acts like an aggressive asshole she has it coming (although I do think in real life punching someone in the face is wrong and generally a bad idea).

Watch it if only to see that talentless skank Sarah Silverman get the shit kicked out of her.   Worth the price of rental alone. 

I really wanted to like WotG.  I'd of course been a fan of McQ's work, am a fan of Ryan, of Taye, etc.  And though I found Alex brought up some perfectly valid points, I have to pasionately disagree.
 
My problem with WotG is my problem with every post-Pulp Fiction crime thriller.  And I'm not saying that PF is perfect, nor am I saying that gritty crime thrillers released after PF were intentionally or necessarily influenced by it.  What I am saying is I'm tired of studios and filmmakers alike assuming that I will automatically find a character interesting solely because he is a killer.  Or  contract killer.  Or an assassin who's found a heart.  Or a killer who kills because it's all he's ever known.  Or anything else.
 
Notice I didn't say "sympathetic."  Unlike what every Screenwriting 101 book tells us, I don't find it necessary to "root" for the main character.  I do, however, find it necessary to give a shit enough to keep watching.  Ryan picking a fight in a parking lot?  Yawn.  Ryan calling Sarah a cunt?  Eh.  Ryan proceeding to punch Sarah in the mouth?  Well, I've always wanted to punch that unfunny, nasal, ear-scraper, so I was into that, but I don't even remember what happened next in the movie.  Why?
 
I didn't fucking care.
 
What would have made me care?  I dunno.  I really don't.  For, as soon as I see petty criminals, guns, supposedly quick/witty dialogue a la this genre, I get turned off pretty instantly.  Could it be I simply don't like the genre?  Perhaps.  I'm no fan of Guy Richie's work.  But I guess I was hoping for a bit more from McQ than just "Look at how much fun I'm making of this genre--wink, wink."

I've seen this.
 
It's actually pretty damn entertaining if you try not to overthink the goings-on.
 
Also, the movie I'd defend to the death would have to be Slither.  Honestly, that movie is brilliant in the dumbest,most simplistic, reverential way possible.  It tries to be so bad it's good and succeeds on every level.  Fucking awesome.
 
Edit:  Also, Nathan Motherfucking Fillion.  'Nuff said.

Hmm, I get that you can't do this feature without spoiling the movie, but what about people who haven't seen it yet?  Can I just assume if you are Defending a Movie, I should go give it a shot?

was that sarah silverman?! 
 
christ 
 
edit: holy fuck, this is strangely entertaining and absurd. I want to watch this now. Thank you Alex!!

I went in near-blind, knowing nothing about who was involved, really. I expected an action movie and nothing more. So it exceeded expectations for me. 
I've always considered it a really clever, well cast popcorn flick. Considering all the trash one has to watch if he enjoys good action, a movie like this is a blessing. I was surprised to see it even needed defending.