Stand Up Guys

3.5 stars... Enjoyable for the performances
"Stand Up Guys" (2013 release; 94 min.) starts with Val (played by Al Pacino) being released from jail after a 28 year stint. He's awaited by his best friend Doc (played by Christopher Walken). We later find out that Val was in jail for the killing of the son of tough guy Claphands, and that Claphands has hired Doc to take out Val by 10 am the next morning. The movie plays out entirely in the 24 hrs. between Val's release from jail and the next morning. During that time we see the two old buddies "liven it up", leading to sometime funny (if at times predictable, as in: Viagra overdose consequences, etc.), and sometimes sentimential moments about the "bad old days" (when they get ready to take on some baddies, they look at each other and start humming: "It's time to kick ass or time to chew gum! but I've run out of gum", ha!).

Several comments: the only plot line that matters in the entire movie is whether at the end Doc takes out Val (I'm not going to tell you how it ends,...

Al Pacino unleashed - don't miss this gem!
I was lucky to attend a screening of ,Stand Up Guys', a thriller-comedy with Al Pacino and Christopher Walken. The movie is hilarious with lots of funny scenes and dialogues. Especially Al Pacino shows method acting at its best. He doesn't play - he is the low rank veteran mobster Val, who - fresh out of prison - wants to make the best of his last hours on earth. Val's only friend Doc is the exact opposite. He looks like a living dead while he is following Val through the night. Doc has a job to do and his job is to kill Val until the next morning. He doesn't have a choice. The mafia don, who wants to see Val dead, has threatened to kill Doc's niece, if Doc spares his friend's life. The world seems to press on Doc's shoulders. Val, on the other hand, knows for whom the bell tolls, but he's a ,Stand Up Guy' and so is his friend.

Director Fisher Stephens arranged extremely funny and dramatic scenes in a quick succession, but his best decision was to step back and let these...

A Stand Up Performance
Three criminals reunite to recapture the glory of their lawless youth, but find their celebrations interrupted when one is put into a difficult position by a vengeful mob boss. Nearly 20 years after refusing to inform on his partner-in-crime, Val (Al Pacino) emerges from prison a free man. Waiting for him at the gate is his old friend Doc (Christopher Walken), who quickly takes him out on the town with the mischievous Hirsh (Alan Arkin) to stir up some trouble. Good movie well acted. I enjoyed watching the forever young Al Pacino.

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