Clay Pigeons Details

Joaquin Phoenix, Janeane Garofalo and Vince Vaughn embark on a simultaneously entertaining and harrowing road trip in this black comedy about double-double-cross and serial killing in Montana. Phoenix stars as Clay, a young man with a past who is befriended by a serial killer — and every woman Clay introduces to him seems to wind up dead. Bringing a unique and satirical edge to the weather-beaten sleazy crime genre, this Ridley Scott production features a great golden oldie soundtrack and cinematography that's reminiscent of early Gus Van Sant and Jim Jarmusch movies. Director David Dobkin pulls off the difficult balance of brooding imagery and light comedy with a strong signature style of his own.

A blackish comedy of escalating disaster that rarely strikes the requisite heartless tone; a little more wit might have helped.