KatherineXiejianing Review of Outlaw

Outlaw (2007)

the unrealistic ending only indicates a possible result that the public desired, in order to promote the idea—the way of guns.

[6/10 · 5 August 2007]

As many suggested this film could be subject to salute "Heat", yet for any director looking for style of realism, it is reasonable to apply muted color and plain dialogue. Although the lines are ill-composed, the fiasco of the film does not lie in those technical aspects, but the under-developed realism. Some argue the same topic should be handed to Guy Richie, undoubtedly, it would be good for revenue, yet bad for taste, since it is not the sort of subject to be ridiculed and deconstructed unless it is the intention to relieve tension of the topic. What should have been done is to place much emphasis on the documentary scent and eliminate any attempt to heroize character. Exaggeration could be found here and there: such as in the end Danny Dyer's magical escape and police's surreal shoot-out in wood which are highly unlikely to have more than twenty police officers violated conduct protocol with or without command at once (think about the cost of eradicating the witness and adaptation of final report). However, there are clear signs that Nick Love has been tried his best for realistic style which has strong influence from the beginning of the film and then weaken down until at the end of the film that realism is disappeared without trace. However, as far as I concern, the film only posed as a suggestion of the possible approach of revenge, and the group in the film served as a failed experiment for further examination, the unrealistic ending only indicates a possible result that the public desired, in order to promote the idea—the way of guns.