Hellmant 'PAWN SHOP CHRONICLES': Four Stars (Out of Five) Wayne Kramer directed this grindhouse style comedy crime-drama telling three different (overlapping) stories involving items sold to a pawn shop. It stars an ensemble cast including Brendan Fraser, Matt Dillon, Kevin Rankin, Vincent D'Onofrio, Chi McBride, Elijah Wood, Lukas Haas, DJ Qualls, Norman Reedus, Thomas Jane and the late Paul Walker. Walker was also one of the producers on the film and previously worked with Kramer on the cult classic 'RUNNING SCARED', in 2006. It was written by Adam Minarovich and is the first movie Kramer has directed that he didn't write (or co-write). It's a really dark and twisted film (like 'RUNNING SCARED') but also bizarrely interesting and entertaining.The movie begins and ends at a pawn shop where it's owner, Alton (D'Onofrio), spends most of his time chitchatting with his friend Johnson (McBride). Different characters come in there throughout the day all trying to pawn a different item and their stories all intersect (and overlap). One is a honeymooning couple where the groom (Dillon) finds his missing wife's wedding ring. Another is an Elvis impersonator (Fraser) doing a show at the local fair, looking for some extra cash. The third is a white supremacist (Haas) wanting to sell a shotgun so he can afford gas to meet his two partners (Walker and Rankin), who are planning to rob their meth supplier (Reedus, who is unrecognizable in a mask the entire film). All the tales (of course) take a very dark turn.The film is funny and very violent, it's also highly disturbing. All of the actors are good and fittingly cast in their roles and Walker always seemed to do his best work in Kramer's movies. Wood is becoming one of the most creepy actors in Hollywood (after playing a psycho in this and 'MANIAC', in the same year); he's really starting to scare me! Although it is very dark and twisted it's also highly entertaining and has a really strong Tarantinoesque feel to it. It's probably what most people expect coming from Wayne Kramer (even though he didn't write it) and it's sad that he and Walker won't be able to work together again.Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTUUB4nMD6M

zif ofoz Just discovered this movie and decided to watch as it is listed as a 'comedy'. And a very dark comedy it is! There are some really disturbingly funny scenes, but I found the balance of the film to be a sarcastically allegorical comment on life in America. Why the previous reviewers missed this is a surprise! Throughout the entire story director Wayne Kramer has offered to the viewer symbolic remarks on religion, politics, and economic life in the American laboring society.First we see the pawn shop - in America everything is a commodity that can be sold and bought - nothing has real value and value is always marginalized when the seller is in 'need'.Second Kramer offers the three rednecks who, on the surface are religious, in symbols only, and have no idea why 'they believe' because they are too consumed with destructive self indulgence. Then when Vernon is left for dead a 'savior' appears not to save him but to offer the chance for revenge. In America it's just believing that makes religion true, not understanding and living it.Third Richard discovers 'the ring' in the pawn shop and seeks answers as to how it got there. Kramer again shows us how property is valued in the social order. Material things along with humans are gifts for capitalist overlords. Shaw represents the ownership society. And when they offer favors to the 'working class' they are to be obedient and grateful, as seen with the caged women for Shaw's pleasure and the 'number one' caged girl who refuses to leave because she gets 30 minutes of television a week in 'the house'. Richard is the liberator and freedom fighter that American's always reject and destroy.Fourth Kramer gives us Ricky, the fourth rate Elvis impersonator, and here Kramer sums up the movie. Americans want to be 'a star' but few have that kind of talent outside of being a big fish in a small pond. And thats where Ricky finds himself. His image is compelling to the locals in that unnamed small southern town and they willing follow him around! Ricky wants a barber to even his sideburns and must choose between two identical barber shops. Kramer smartly symbolizes the American political system here as there is no real difference between the two leading parties (Democrats & Republicans). But the locals think there is a difference between the two barber shops and when Ricky picks one over the other mayhem erupts in the street. In America perception is what drives the choices. When the choice really doesn't exist! When Ricky gets to perform at the carnival he is so unprepared and untalented the locals reject him. Then when he accepts the offer made by the street preacher (Mephistopheles type character), Ricky's whole image changes when he starts singing 'Amazing Grace'. Suddenly the local towns folk see him as bright and talented because he has accepted their Christian values. Then the naked and filth covered cage women show up and wrap themselves in the American flag. The image of justice and freedom shine as long as Americans have patriotism and God. Shaw returns from the dead to claim the filth covered women and a new woman. They all follow him out. The locals are too star struck to notice what's happening right before them. Kramer shows how Americans cannot escape the capitalist system (Shaw) because society will always give into religion, patriotism and those who control the money.The film closes with Harry (little man/big truck) entering the pawn shop to teach Alton a lesson but JJ quells him easily and then it's business as usual for Alton. Harry is the collective conscience of America and it's small and easy to overlook, but it's always there.Pawn Shop Chronicles is a triumph for Kramer - it's perfection start to finish!

mark-4522 There are many people who are disgusted with this film and for good reason, but that can be said of the Tarantino films that it rips off as well. That said, if you are a film buff who can find humor in strange things, you (or I at least) can enjoy a film like this.At least one star of this review is earned for the scene of Elijah Wood masturbating to a video of himself. Combined with his classic association with the LOTR films makes the whole situation hilarious. There's also Matt Dilllon's role as the determined hero trying to rescue his kidnapped wife who callously and cruelly abandons his newlywed wife as if she deserves contempt for the situation. When he goes to beat up the kid in the diner it begs the question: Wouldn't police have been called and an APB put out? In a small town such as that, they'd have rounded him up in a moment. Tons of plot holes abound to marvel at.While others are disgusted by the Hollywood leftist politics of the film, I find it funny in a way how they are not aware of their own bigotries. While they bash southerners as racist, note that there is only one significant token African American role in the film who plays a wisecracking guy in the background. This is a perfect example of limousine liberalism. They ruthlessly portray southerners as rednecks but when have they EVER taken on the typical Democrat welfare mother? I laughed my head off that while the characters of the film reflect the producer's own feelings of why they can't understand why racist southerners hate Jews and Blacks, they themselves can't seem to figure out why they hate working class whites yet leftists prefer to live amongst, and make movies about, working class whites. At least in the 70's, there were sitcoms such as "Good Times" that they even acknowledged the issues that they sweep under the rug today.The closest film I've seen to Hollywood taking a hard look at themselves was S.O.B. and they couldn't handle even THAT much criticism.Despite, or because, of the plot holes, ripoffs, and cheesy roles it was possible to enjoy the comedic timing and performances of the actors. Imagine Anthony Hopkins working at your local dinner theater. Something other reviewers missed: The film ripped off the style of Creepshow.

christiank7 I gave it 2 because there are some funny moments but moments do not make a good film nor even a relatively interesting one. Kramer is showing us his very own rather disjointed comprehension of reality. Other reviews have pointed to the non interaction of the plot sequences but this is actually the least problematic with this attempt at dark humour. What is really annoying about this film is the stereotypes he uses to convey his liberal and very confused agenda. It is insulting to almost everybody except the holy in-crowd of Hollywood and of course the jews (this is a very small part of the film but it rings big bells). Rednecks and trailer trash seem to be his favorite ICONS. Pathetic really for a guy who is himself such a misery of a man. Google him if you do not believe what I am referring to here. Back to the film: the cast is actually the only saving grace but then when you only have split moment scenes you can afford to be brilliant. Really great acting comes from sustained performances throughout a challenging period of a plot which this film actually does not really have. That in itself is OK but then what is the point of the exercise? Good question without an answer. There is another disturbing element and it is not only with this film but with the connections that this Kramer is or has already made with a certain Hollywood group that smells so much like LIBERALISM gone mad. His future attempts will be avoided if we are so unlucky as to have any.