Clay Pigeons

Name: Clay Pigeons
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Crime
Released: September 25, 1998
Duration: 104 min
Rating: 46
Cast: Georgina Cates, Joaquin Phoenix, Vince Vaughn

1998

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Ratings

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Clay Pigeons

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Movie Details & Credits

Gramercy Pictures (I) | Release Date: September 25, 1998 | R

Starring: Georgina Cates, Joaquin Phoenix, Vince Vaughn

Summary: Lester Long (Vaughn) has a firm handshake, a ready smile, and some strange ideas about friendship in this 90's noir. As dead bodies start piling up in a small Montana town, Lester burrows his way into Clay's (Phoenix) life and plays a twisted game of shifted blame and double-cross.

Director: David Dobkin

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 104 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Ron Wells

I don't want to say any more about the plot, it's just too much sick fun. Read full review

Bob Graham

It's got unpredictable plot twists and unexpected laughs coming out of dark corners. The sharp-edged film also looks terrific. Read full review

Mark Caro

The movie seems so convinced of its own entertainment value that it has neglected to factor in the elements that make a comedic thriller more than just a facile exercise -- i.e., suspense, tension, heart. Being amused by plot turns is not the same as caring, and Clay Pigeons never inspires you to grab your armrest or catch your breath. [25 Sept 1998]

TV Guide Magazine Maitland McDonagh

Nasty fun all around. Read full review

David Sterritt

Much of the acting is energetically good. Moviegoers familiar with "Fargo" and "Red Rock West" will find this adventure eerily familiar. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

"You've got a sense of humor, I like that," Lester Long proclaims at one point. Well, we all like that, but would it be asking too much to have a little coherence to go along with it? Read full review

Ella Taylor

If you get your jollies from watching women being shot, stabbed and humiliated, you’ll love video director David Dobkin’s pointlessly grisly, tediously derivative feature debut. Read full review

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User Reviews

JYT

Jul 29, 2012

A very good movie that started the trend of forensic crime dama on tv. It is also well acted by all characters, well filmed and a movie to watch over again.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Atrium89

May 24, 2021

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0 of 0 users found this helpful00

vgmkyle

Feb 14, 2016

Some good shots, and a fantastic highlight reel from Vince can't hide the blemishes of how boring it can actually be. I also wasn't satisfied with the conclusion -- infact it wasn't very clever or believable based on this history this movie creates for the characters.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

DawdlingPoet

Nov 25, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a fairly decent movie, though it does have quite a 'budget' feel to it. Joaquin portrays Clay well, showing the frustration and desperation of his character, well.

There is a comedic side to the movie, with the always cheerful and also pretty over the top Lester as your local 'yee haw rootin' tootin'' cowboy and the rather dorky deputy Barney (no, not the purple dinosaur, though he doesn't seem particularly more intelligent than said creature!) (played by Vince Vieluf). Also some of the background music is a bit amusing at times, like the duelling banjos played while Clay and Lester are out fishing and Clay makes a rather disturbing discovery, through really it is more of a drama than a comedy.

It is perhaps a bit slow paced at times, which means some may find it a bit boring. Some scenes appear as if their daydreams or otherwise in Clays mind, I wouldn't like to give away entirely what happens in the movie but afterwards it made me wonder if the somewhat more daydream-ish scenes, or at least what appeared to me to be a bit like that, might be pointing towards something, its a bit difficult to tell and maybe im looking too far into things but it was interesting anyway. Vince does pretty well as Lester, portraying the 'laughing cowboy' type figure, which seems to suit him pretty well.

The story is a little confusing but interesting enough to keep you watching. The ending left me a bit unsure, it wasn't too clear... I think its up to you to decide quite what happened and where the characters go, from there.

This is a decent enough movie with a budget feel to it, the performances are quite good and its interesting enough, storywise, to keep you watching. There are some bits that are kind of amusing, though it is also quite seedy, with a few sex scenes present.

Its interesting to see Vince play a slightly different character, or otherwise to appear in a more dramatic movie. He looks quite good in this, so im sure its a hit with fans of his, if your one and haven't seen it already then I'd recommend it.

Its worth seeing, if it sounds like something that interests you. I wouldn't say that this is a particularly outstanding movie in any way but its good enough for a night in.… Expand

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