Surprisingly enjoyable, low key drama wrongly promoted as an Elmore Leonard-esque crime caper, '.45' is more of a richly detailed love letter to the films of John Cassavetes (and that scene from 'True Romance' where Patricia Arquette takes up the axe) than an original picture in its own right. Screenwriter Gary Lennon makes his directorial debut with some style, and though '.45' may seem hopelessly dated in the post 'Pulp Fiction', post 'Boondock Saints', post 'Jackie Brown' post everything vaguely even resembling anything in this movie, era, its still an entertaining little movie that's worth a punt. Milla Jovovich is Kat; an attractive, sassy twentysomething trapped in an abusive relationship with well endowed madman / gun seller Big Al (Angus McFadden, best known for his role as Robert the Bruce in 'Braveheart'). Kat is the object of everyone's desire; from her criminal boyfriend, his henchman Reilly (Stephen Dorff in decent film shocker!), social worker Liz (Aisha Tyler), Hispanic hoodlum Jose (Vincent LaResca) to local lesbian Vic (Sarah Strange), and ultimately the target upon which the bullets of unrequited lust & jealously explode with devastating effect. '.45' is essentially a comic book, cliché driven empowerment picture with Milla as an awkward, and often outrageous, cross between Maureen Murphy and Jennifer Hills from Zarchi's cult favourite 'Day Of The Woman' (1978). Some of the misogynist violence was reminiscent of Robin Wright Penn's struggle against abusive partners in Nick Cassavettes underrated gem 'She's So Lovely"'(1997), for there's a particularly claustrophobic and commendably uncomfortable scene where Milla is brutalised for what seems like forever: this is pure Cassavettes and indicative of Lennon's ability to illicit empathy from an audience. Overall, '.45' isn't a film you're ever likely to reload, nonetheless, it's a well paced, reasonably well acted nod to independent domestic drama and contemporary film noir. Give it a shot.