Clay Pigeons (1998)

CLAY PIGEONS

PENTY OF SUSPENCEFUL ACTION. GOOD HUMOR. HARD TO TELL AT FIRST WHERE THE MANY SIDE STORIES ARE GOING BUT ITS ENTERTAINING ALL THE WAY THROUGH. July 14, 2008

Friggin brilliant.

Discovering Clay Pigeons was to me like discovering a stock certificate in my grandfather's attic and realizing it's worth some serious cash. Well, maybe not to that extent, but along the same lines.

PLOT: Clay Bidwell (Phoenix) is having a rough week. The dead body of one of his former girlfriends in found in a local lake, and a floozy he once hooked-up with is found stabbed repeatedly in her home on the outskirts of town. Everyone is suspecting Clay except for a amicable fella named Lester Long (Vaughn), who has a million dollar smile and the charm to back it up. It seems that everywhere Clay goes, death and Lester Long aren't far behind, smiling with a boyish grin and an "I know something you don't know" glare in his eyes.

It's hard to categorize Clay Pigeons. There are elements of hilarity and elements of suspense, but mostly, the film creates its own distinct vibe by taking the viewer into a bizarre world where death and humor are intermixed and the result is something rather brilliant. Phoenix and Vaughn both deliver masterfully in roles that suit their strengths. For Vaughn, playing a roguish miscreant who saturates his world with intellectual wit was something quite entertaining to behold. On the flipside, Phoenix is right at home in playing the role of a kid who is clinging desperately to his sanity as the world around him crumbles under the weight of accusation.

Overall, Clay Pigeons is a solid film that will keep you engaged to the end. If you're a fan of Vaughn or Phoenix, you won't be let down with either.
July 1, 2008

Clay Pigeons

First movie I actually liked Joaquin Phoenix. He plays this guy with mixed up morals who then gets involved with people even more mixed up than him. Everything just spirals into a huge mess for Joaquin's character. Pokes fun at small-town life but not in a false manner. Good dark comedy. November 1, 2007

Great performances...

I thought the cast was pretty much perfect and their performances were great. I just didn't think the story was very orginal and it was too easy to guess what was going to happen next.

Still, I enjoyed it and would recommend it, although it was really nothing special or exciting. September 23, 2007

Great show

This was a great show. Vince Vaughn does a spectacular job in his part. Very funny and twisted movie. June 12, 2007

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