Pairing together a ceaselessly meta screenplay with a top notch ensemble cast of colorful characters, Seven Psychopaths is an almost thoroughly entertaining and consistently witty crime caper that blends together it’s juggle of  ideas to rather simplistic ends. Mainly centred on a screenwriter struggling to finish his screenplay named after the titular film itself, Seven Psychopaths steadily interweaves its thorough line in a rather humorous way as the protagonist - played solidly by Colin Farrell as a writer losing his mind - ironically encounters many psychopaths - played superbly most notably by the likes of Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell at his comedic best as he gives his all - who both serve to shape and inform his writing and vice versa. As expected, this gives way to an increasingly thrilling and entertaining sequence of shocking violence, engaging narrative twists and bursts of comedic banter that feels reminiscent of the likes of Tarantino and Cornetto but that feels very much like Martin McDonaugh’s own as he smartly undercuts proceedings by finding the humanity in his otherwise already compelling crew of misfits that doesn’t feel forced. 

It’s only held back by its lack of depth with its central idea and a bit of uneven focus as it doesn’t always juggle its narrative threads properly which leads to some segments of the film meandering. All in all, the film amounts to nothing more than a smart and at times subversive, yet simply good time but that’s truly no problem when it’s being spent with a well realized cast having such a bonkers time sinking into such a solidly written screenplay and bonkers concept as they all trade sharp dialogue and banter. By the end of it all, much like Farrell’s lead character, McDonaugh has so wonderfully channeled this chaotic, yet also weirdly calm into such a wave that it’s bittersweet closing moments feel too soon, but in a good way as his lead finds solace and the ending to his story that wraps up the 

If this and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri as well as the endless cascade of praise I hear from the filmbros are any indication, In Bruges should be quite the treat!