PlatinumRead Just so...so bad

Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Fulke Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Francene Odetta It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

NateWatchesCoolMovies Clay Pigeons is one of the odder films floating around out there, but it's a damn good time at the movies. It fits into a subgenre that I have lovingly dub as 'desert noir', other prime examples being Oliver Stone's U Turn and John Dahl's Red Rock West. Intrigue and murder abound under a sun soaked, parchment dry landscape in these types of films, always with a healthy helping of dark humour and unsettling, psychopathic characters running around, perpetually up to no good. Joaquin Phoenix (adding to the U Turn vibe) plays Clay, a good guy who seems to have a real problem with bad luck. He finds out his friend has killed himself, which seems to be the first swirl in a spooky spiral of trouble that veers towards him like a dust devil. Soon nosy FBI agent Dale Shelby (reliably perky Janeane Garofalo) comes to town, turning her attention towards him. Dan Mooney (ever great Scott Wilson stealing scenes with perched stealth) is Clay's friend and the town Sheriff, also on the lookout for clues. These two are the least of his worries though, as the worst is yet to come with the arrival of charming serial killer Lester Long (Vince Vaughn). This is my favourite Vince Vaughn performance because he shows his versatility with the brittle, lightning quick turns of personality injected into Lester. One minute he's your best buddy and a lovable loudmouth, the next a coiled viper with untold violence beneath the jovial exterior. They always say serial killers are charmers, and Vince Vaughn takes that sentiment, dances around you in circles with it and then proceeds to strangle you with it when you least expect it. So yeah. The bodies pile up and no one seems to be able to tie them to anyone. Lester treats everyone like his best friend until they're too comfortable to see the blind side coming, and poor Phoenix wanders around looking disshvelled and stressed out. It's good fun all the way through, doing a nice see-saw rhythm between quaint, cartoonish antics and a grim, scary turn of events. Underrated and more than worth your time.

themorethemurrier I have loved this movie for years. It's one of only a dozen or so that I felt compelled to actually purchase, and I often recommend and lend it to friends and coworkers who haven't heard of it. Upon return, they generally suggest that there's something wrong with me for including this in my all time favorites, but always concede that they enjoyed it.It is hilarious, but it's a dark, dark comedy. Every performance is solid, and you will find yourself quoting some of the funnier lines to others when you try to explain to them why they, too, should watch this messed up but delightfully amusing tale.I'll not waste your time with a lengthy review of the plot; you can find that any number of other places. I will give you a warning that it is a rated R movie for a reason. I'd recommended it to a close girlfriend years ago when she was in college. She picked it for a coed movie night with a hundred or so folks...and it was apparently a bit racier than there normal fare. (They whistled and jeered, she blushed and was mortified, but everyone loved it.)

wes-connors After he is discovered to be having weekly intercourse with a friend's wife, studly Joaquin Phoenix (as Clay) must dispose of the suicidal man's body, or be accused of the shooting. While trying to fend off the advances of his dead pal's sexpot widow, Mr. Phoenix meets burping cowboy drifter Vince Vaughn (as Lester) in the local watering hole. The two men bond over cigarettes and beer. Soon, they are fishing buddies.Then, prowling widow Georgina Cates (as Amanda) shoots estranged lover Phoenix' newest bed-pal pick-up, while the two are in the act; and, Phoenix must again dispose of a body. Next, Mr. Vaughn hooks up with Ms. Cates, and stabs her forty times. As it turns out, Vaughn is a serial killer, with over a dozen victims to his credit. Vaughn decides to frame Phoenix as the killer, as FBI agent Janeane Garofalo (as Shelby) tries to sort out the bloody mess.David Dobkin's "Clay Pigeons" offers surprisingly little sense, or suspense; however, it is an enjoyable effort. The cast helps a lot. Ms. Garofalo participates in some particularly effective scenes; check out her pizza ordering, and aborted barroom "pick-up" scene. Garofalo, Phoenix, and Vaughn are refreshingly assailable performers; and, this quality is pleasingly evident throughout the film. Vince Vieluf (as Barney) does "Deputy Fife" proud. Finally, Eric Edwards' photography is lovely.****** Clay Pigeons (9/15/98) David Dobkin ~ Joaquin Phoenix, Vince Vaughn, Janeane Garofalo

strangerdave-2 Clay Pigeons has all the ingredients of a first rate film; Outstanding acting by Joaquin Phoenix (before he became a superstar) and Janeane Garafaolo (before she became a left wing stooge); Vince Vaughan in one of the great performances of his or any career; a leitmotif of outstanding country music that perfectly sets the mood throughout the picture; laugh out loud dialog; and, last but not least, gorgeous half-naked women.Alas, the movie's shortcomings, from start to finish, are too great to overlook. The incident upon which the whole plot depends is a suicide that the victim has made to look like a murder by Clay (Phoenix), who had been having an affair with the dead man's wife. Never mind that the victim's fingerprints are all over the gun - Clay panics and pushes the victim and his truck over a cliff rather than admit to the affair and report the truth. What makes this decision all the more ludicrous is that we later learn that the sheriff and Clay are old buds. When evidence from two murders that happen consequential to the initial incident point definitively to Clay as the killer, the sheriff still refuses to believe that he is guilty.Everything else about the story is pretty ridiculous, too. How did the murder weapon get into Clay's fireplace? And, wouldn't the murderer have placed it in a more obvious location, since his whole point was to set up Clay? How does Clay know where to find the murderer when he escapes from jail? How does Agent Shelby (Garafaolo) know where to go, and why would she go alone after a serial killer who's about twice her size? Why does Clay misdirect Shelby when she gets there? Why is the last bit of trickery, when Lester(Vaughan) thinks he's taking a ride to New Mexico with "Robert" necessary? And on and on.If you're looking for a night's worth of entertainment, you can do a lot worse than Clay Pigeons. The problem is, Clay Pigeons is a lot worse than it should have been.