Here’s a dark comedy called Violet & Daisy that probably could have been better written considering the cast that the movie features. The script seems to be the problem with the dialogue so dumb down that the delivery is very difficult and the two main characters can’t really handle it. I think the writer/director Geoffrey Fletcher wanted to keep his characters teenage, but after the introduction I can see how the film just goes nowhere. Now available in a Blu-ray combo pack that includes the DVD and includes a written note from the director.
The film centers on two young girls teenage Daisy (Saoirse Ronan) and twenty one year old Violet (Alexis Bledel) who are trained hit-women. The movie opens with the two dressed as nuns pushing their way into an apartment where they shoot up 6 burly men before retreating to their own apartment. That afternoon they get a call from their boss Russ (Danny Trejo) about a hit involving a guy named Michael (James Gandolfini) who pulled off a hijacking heist on him.
Although reluctant, they find they need the newest Barbie Sunday dresses so take the job and head over the Michael’s apartment. They enter the living room and find that he is not at home. Exhausted from their previous job they fall asleep on the couch. Michael returns home and finds the girls sleeping, but decides to accept his fate so he waits for them to awaken. When the two girls awaken and see Michael sitting in a chair, they start getting cold feet maybe doing a wrong deed.
The film starts to get complicated with four other hit-men out to kill Michael for another reason. Writer and director Geoffrey Fletcher takes his film from silly to absurd as he continues his story of running gags and mayhem. The young Saoirse Ronan and Alexis Bledel just can’t make their characters believable enough to carry out the story however, and the whole things become a “are you kidding me” affair. The deeper it gets into the film the less funny it becomes and eventually peters out in the third act.
The high profile actors like James Gandolfini and Danny Trejo would have been more effective had Ronan and Bledel been right for their parts. Gandolfini shows no energy and in several scenes seems to be skeptical about the film altogether. Trying not to fall into his Tony Soprano characteristics he makes Michael a weak adversary for someone who’s supposed to be a thug. I did enjoy seeing the fine actor on the screen once more.
The Blu-ray quality is fair considering that the low-budget indie must have not used high tech cameras to shoot it. I found it to be grainy and lacked focus during some scenes. The wide shots were dull, especially in Michael’s apartment and the street scenes lacked color.
The sound was very good with the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 or 5.1. The dialogue is clean and clear and sound track acceptable. The only problem is the special effects sound of the guns being shot. They sounded like cap pistols instead of revolvers.
Violet & Daisy has been rated R by the MPAA for violence, disturbing behavior and language. The film gets real out of place with the young girls doing the killing, but after all it’s a comedy, right?
Specifications and additional film information:
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Alexis Bledel, James Gandolfini, Danny Trejo, Tatiana Maslany, and Cody Horn
Director: Geoffrey Fletcher
MPAA Rating: R for violence, disturbing behavior and language
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
Running Time: 1 hr 28 min
Video Release Date: November 19, 2013
Original Film Release Date: June 6, 2013
Language: English
Format: Blu-ray & DVD Combo Pack
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 & 5.1
Video: 2.35:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Number of Discs: 2 Discs
Distributed by: Cinedigm
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
