As Modest As He Ever Was

Hobo With A Shotgun (d. Jason Eisener w. John Davies, 2011)

I watched Hobo With a Shotgun for the first time a few hours ago when it was still the anniversary of my birth into this world. The cast is made up of enough cult Canadian actors that every character’s face will piss you off until someone else in the room finally figures out what made-for-tv-film they remember them from. Also, this happens…

Like, ALL the time.

Though the thought of having to apply any sort of logic to any aspect of this film is extrinsically doltish — if not downright lavishly obtuse or dare I say loutishly wanton — but I ask of you this: think of the film as taking place in the world/reality of a modern sandbox videogame à la Grand Theft Auto or Saints Row. Everything makes sense. All the random violence and disturbingly creative applications of violence actually come across as normal. Even the evil characters have life-bars comparable to inFamous bosses, which isn’t too hard to swallow since every person in this world has the endurance of a tank (some characters even quite literally). This and more — so much fucking more — becomes manageable and what you’re left with is a film that is actually half-way decent  that seems to grow a great charm out of its limitations. But make no mistake, that doesn’t mean it “means” anything.