New movie "Shooting Gallery" review (no spoilers)

Billiard Architect

Billiard Architect

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Well let me say this about the movie... It is not going to be what you expect unless you expect Pulp Fiction meets chalk. The acting on a scale of 10 is around a 6. Except for the guy that plays the cop (name escapes me) does a pretty good job.

For those of you looking for a movie that does pool justice I would say that this one isn't that bad. There were a couple of times that FPJ let the cue fly from his bridge when shooting a shot. But when there actually was a match being played and they followed the shots they were made in succession and there was no editing. There were jumps and masse's to make the shots interesting (I guess that is to be expected).

As for storyline it is actually better than PHJ and TCOM although (and there always has to be one of these) the way the movie is put together it is sort of tough to find out which way it is going.

As for the casting it isn't bad. FPJ does a good job playing his part which surprised me. I was expecting a teen movie idol trying to play a toughguy but he pulled it off well. R. Sanchez plays her part well also but then again playing a cute rounder girlfriend is not hard either. V Rhames was made for this part. You could take his role in Pulp Fiction and plug it right into this movie. The cop as I mentioned before was outstanding. Tenderloin Tony was not cast well. He would have been better off being cast as one of the cocky locals that Jerico (FPJ) knocked off.

Because I was expecting something different I guess this movie put me off a little bit. Knowing what it is I will watch it again in a week to see what I missed and see if I can follow the story a bit better knowing the pieces that each character plays.

I would say it is definitely a rental but remember don't go into it thinking it is going to be like PHJ.

JV
 
One star

I didn't like this movie, but of course, from a pool player's perspective, it will rarely ring true when you use actors to play pool.

The opening song had a few cute double entendres "Fat Man running, dead man coughing".

The terminology was 30% made up (see the extra features). How can they just make up pool terminology??? They did use short stop ;) , but the definition was a local player. They used the term 'being on the lemon' instead of being on the limoney or sandbagging.

The overall tone was gritty, with several disturbing scenes of violence. Is that the only thing that makes pool interesting is for someone to get beaten, stabbed or shot?

Ms. Sanchez was too pretty to be believable as the kind of pool groupie that is usually in the poolroom. She was a cross between Angel Paglia and Eva Longoria in Desperate Housewives. She was gorgeous. It also suspended belief that she would watch someone getting beat up without getting out of her chair out of the way or even lifting an eyebrow. I would be running for the nearest door!

Freddy Prinze Jr. was also too good-looking to be believable, and that fake NY accent was stupid. He had a good rail bridge for breaking, but he kept winging out his right arm sideways on the followthrough. When he had an easy setup runout, his intensity on the hanging 9 was just too much. It was funny.

And what was with the Biblical names? Jericho and Jezebel. Sheesh.

One shot looked unbelievable. It was rolling to the hole and abruptly stops. It was supposed to look like it hit the tit, but it still would have gone anywhere else but the movie set. Also, you would see someone shoot medium speed and the ball would race around at warp speed.

I don't know any transvestites that hang around a poolroom. Maybe I am too sheltered?

There is a guy that looks like Manolo in a poker game.

Freddy Prinze Jr. - gets beat up and his abrasion is on his left temple and when he talks to Jezebel, it switches to his right, then later, back to his left.

Women are treated as pieces of meat - big surprise there.

There is a phone call near the end. FPJ answers a ringing phone in a phone booth, with a package taped to the bottom of the seat. FPJ says the caller will have to find him. Well DUH, he knew where to call and tape the package! Then the caller uses the threat that he can get Jezebel, because he has been in her room. FPJ acts all shocked. Why would he be shocked? The caller can't get Jezebel at her house. Because DOUBLE DUH, Jezelbel is with FPJ!!!!

No one uses a closed bridge to shoot. All the shots are easy setup shots, except for the masse's and draw shots, but they cut away from the actor, so you know they aren't shooting. When they think they are sandbagging, they miss the easiest shots your 4 year old could make. Stop the insanity!

Plus, they blast the 9 ball. The cueball could have scratched in any pocket, it zips around so many rails. Btw, they do catch it while it is still rolling. lol.

When FPJ switches hands, the table layout is suddenly different.

The pool technician is John "Spike" Wilds. Anyone know him? He has a southern accent, is 60ish, was a former trick shot artist and coach.

Saw Pechauer Cues and Olhausen tables in the credits. Keoni Waxman was the writer/producer.

Some guys might like this movie for the weak action plot, but the women are just props and one-dimensional. I doubt very many pool players will like it at all, except that we are just so desperate for any pool movies!
 
My chief complaint is there are no captions, so I'm only catching bits and pieces of the movie. All I hear is "sessil, sessil, sessil". I'm pretty sure I know where they pulled this lingo out of :eek: The names are already killing me. Jezebel... Jericho... Is this pool or Children of the Corn?

First of all, what is all this "tribe" BS? Nice tattoos, by the way. So they get branded. With eight-balls, no less. Way to hustle there, sports.

The accents and dialogue are huh-larious. I expect Ving Rhames to say, "Why, yessuh, mastuh, lemme git yaw hawses" any minute now. Oh, Freddie... if you're lyin', you're dyin? That's tough. I mean, real hardass. Especially with you lowering your voice like that. Criminy, it just keeps getting worse.

Then not only did they make up their own jargon, they butchered actual pool terminology. It's a good thing this movie never made it to theatres, or we'd have a bunch of assclowns running around our pool halls rambling about dandelions and lemons.

The acting as a whole was atrocious. Was there even a director on the set? You'd think they weren't seasoned actors. Okay, actor. FPJ and Devon Sawa don't count.

Of course, the shots, the bridges, and the "sharking" these guys are doing are all crap, but I expected no less. The rack twirl got me, though. You know what I'm talking about... That thing ballbangers do. I also noticed when JERICHO and CUEBALL CARL (*rolls eyes*) are playing, they rack the balls in numerical order. Nice. And love the glove, Carl.

Shooting Gallery was also an apt title. I think they shot more with guns than cues.

Not all is lost, though. I walked away with a new playing strategy: When on the nine, hit it as hard as you can. And cuss. A lot.

This movie does what I never thought possible, which is SUCK more than Poolhall Junkies.
 
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My friend rented it last night and we watched it. It sucked, but it sucked in such a way that made it humorous to me. I mean it sucked so bad it was funny.
 
Sweet Marissa said:
The names are already killing me. Jezebel... Jericho... Is this pool or Children of the Corn?.
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I think you have forgotten that the original name for this movie was "Poolhall Prophets" which would make the names fit.


Sweet Marissa said:
This movie does what I never thought possible, which is SUCK more than Poolhall Junkies.
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In some ways I agree and disagree. As for being strickly a pool movie PHJ is more fun and upbeat (way upbeat). But storyline wise there is enough going on in SG that makes it better. The sad thing about pool movie plots is you can usually sum them up in one sentence.

The Hustler "The life of a hustler and what happens if you get in with the wrong crowd".

TCOM "Old road player teaches a cocky kid how to hustle."

PHJ "Hustler and friends help brother out of a jam."

SG on the other hand not only has the plot of Jerico getting sucked into the wrong crowd but how the cop and cueball carl fit into the storyline. (I don't want to come up with a plot sentence to ensure I don't infringe on the 'no spoiler' in the title of the thread). But I think it would be difficult to sum it up in one sentence.

I am reserving my final opinion on it until I see it again.

JV<--- Hey I really liked Blair Witch the first time I saw it and thought it was beyond stupid the second time.
 
rackmsuckr said:
Ms. Sanchez was too pretty to be believable as the kind of pool groupie that is usually in the poolroom. She was a cross between Angel Paglia and Eva Longoria in Desperate Housewives. She was gorgeous.
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That did it for me. Angelina Paglia and Eva Longoria???????? I am definitely watching the movie now.

Mike
 
the kirkwood ki said:
IT SUCKS!!! Don't waste your time or money.
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I watched the whole movie to see if it would get any better.
Wasted my time.
It was bad from the moment it started to until it finished.
 
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