In working my way through the Academy Award nominees for last year, I stumbled upon the upcoming crime-comedy “Stand Up Guys”. Having never heard of the film, I sought out the trailer: Al Pacino is leaving prison; Christopher Walken is waiting by a car to pick him up. I think I’ve seen enough here, I’m sold. “Stand Up Guys” centers on Val (Al Pacino), who has just been released from a 28 year prison sentence. The viewer follows the afternoon and night directly following Val’s release. As the plot develops, and as is revealed in the trailer, Val is to be assassinated by his long-time friend, Doc (Christopher Walken). The night follows the aging pair as they eat, drink and dance, one last night out for the old friends. The amazing talent of the two stars is the driving interest of “Stand Up Guys”, the nuanced performances of these seasoned veterans is pornography for the movie lover. The actions and activities written for our stars are outshined by the moments of silence, glances, and body language in their performances. The distant stares of Al Pacino, movements and calculable expressions of Christopher Walken; these powerhouses of acting don’t just play the roles; they embody Val and Doc, brining the characters to life. It’s almost palpable, the respect between Walken and Pacino, and later Alan Arkin; it’s conveyed that the actors genuinely enjoyed their experience together.
“It’s like a gum commercial”
The humor of the film is standout, likely also a causality of these giants, even more pronounced with the introduction of comedy legend Alan Arkin. Putting aged personalities with classic sensibilities into the environment of 2013, situational comedy moments, such as the advent of Viagra and its lasting effects, and push button ignition sport vehicles, gives the characters more than enough subtle opportunities to add interest to conventional affairs of the 21st century. While it may seem low hanging fruit, and may have been with lesser actors; when handled by these masters, the jokes are interesting and fresh. The only real complaints I can voice of “Stand Up Guys” is the storyline. The plot plays out like Grumpy Old Men with a criminal background. There are underlying stories that evolve as the movie progresses, but in the end we’re still watching a few very old men, reflecting on their younger years and past exploits; not exactly a fresh concept.
“That was weird, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah”
Christopher Walken needs no further introduction. Even more so as of late, Walken himself has become a cult legend. Having been active in television and film since 1953, Walken has appeared in hundreds of roles, and has been nominated for dozens of awards, even winning the Academy Award in 1978 for his role in the film classic Deer Hunter. Having started acting at age ten, Alan Arkin is best known for his roles in Glengarry Glen Ross, Little Miss Sunshine, and 2012’s Academy Award Nominated Argo. Arkin has been a prolific talent in the acting community since 1957. Starting in 1968, Al Pacino is no less an actor; revered for roles in legendary films like the Godfather trilogy, Dog Day Afternoon, Glenglarry Glen Ross, as well as Broadway performances of Richard III, and Shakespeare In The Park to name a few.
Refreshingly, Pacino does not choose between his normal go-to personas for this film. Historically, Pacino tended to have two speeds: quiet and withdrawn, as seen in such roles as Serpico, and Dog Day Afternoon, to boisterous and exaggerated, as were his characters in Devil’s Advocate and Scent of a Woman. With a scant running time of just over 90 minutes, “Stand Up Guys”, starring Christopher Walken, Al Pacino, and Alan Arkin is scheduled for a US release on Friday, February 1st, 2013. Without a new message, or fresh angle on humor, still a fun film experience for any lover of the cinematic performance or spectator of real acting talent.
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