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Title: Stand Up Guys (2012)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Al Pacino | ... | Val | |
| Christopher Walken | ... | Doc | |
| Alan Arkin | ... | Hirsch | |
| Julianna Margulies | ... | Nina Hirsch | |
| Mark Margolis | ... | Claphands | |
| Lucy Punch | ... | Wendy | |
| Addison Timlin | ... | Alex | |
| Vanessa Ferlito | ... | Sylvia | |
| Katheryn Winnick | ... | Oxana | |
| Bill Burr | ... | Larry | |
| Craig Sheffer | ... | Jargoniew #1 | |
| Yorgo Constantine | ... | Paul | |
| Weronika Rosati | ... | Irena | |
| Keone Young | ... | Song | |
| Courtney Galiano | ... | Lisa | |
After 28 years, Val gets out of prison, and his friend Doc picks him up. The local mob boss, Claphands, wants Val dead (Claphands' son died in a robbery and he blames Val) and Doc has until morning to kill him. It's a long night: Val wants to party - they visit a cat house, Val needs Viagra, they break into a pharmacy. After midnight, they pick up Hirsch, their old wheelman, drive the city in a stolen car. They visit the cat house, help a woman in distress, bury a body, and eat at Doc's hangout, a café where the waitress, Alex, is cheerful. The sun rises, Claphands wants Val dead, and Val, who has figured out his fate, is resigned. Is there anything left to take care of? Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
Stand Up Guys is a low-budget film not only should earn appreciation by the older audience, but it certainly earned mine. I wasn't expecting anything crazy here, but I got a low-key drama featuring three very fine actors admittedly in their twilight years, a relatively good script, some good comedy, and the theme of friends being reunited after 28 years.
Fisher Stevens directs a film about a man named Val who has been released from prison after 28 years for being a stand up guy or a loyal friend. His best friend and partner named Doc has been ordered to kill him, but before he can follow that order, Val, Doc, and their other friend Hirsch decide to have one last night together.
As many people pointed out, I will admittedly watch anything on-screen featuring these trio of actors. They all done much better roles, but they are still good here. Al Pacino is of course a screen legend and his performance gave me some flashbacks. Christopher Walken is another screen legend and does a great job as the calm Doc. Alan Arkin, who seems to be having a career resurgence, does an excellent job in his limited role.
Overall, Stand Up Guys is not the greatest movie about friendship, but it is effective enough. The direction seems a little faulty at time and I was a little disappointed with the ending. It didn't end the way it should have. But the chemistry between these three acting greats is sky-high and it's nice to see together for one last hurrah. It wouldn't be a film featuring these older actors without those Viagra jokes. But the film can be funny, sweet, and dark and it also has some killer songs by Jon Bon Jovi. I rate this film 9/10.