| Product: |
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (DVD) |
| Date: |
16/04/08 (112 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Hip and cool, street smart dialogue
Disadvantages: A unique narrative style to get used to
Harry Lockhart is one of life's nice guys, but he can't ever finish anything that he starts, including school and his marriage. When he meets Harmony Lane in L.A., years after they both attended high school, he finds something that he finally wants to see through to the end. They both bump into each other at the same party in L.A. There's only one question to answer: Why does everybody keep dying?
The start to this movie is terrific and pulls you straight in. You see Harry as a young magician and a young Harmony is his apprentice in a box; about to be sawn in half by a chainsaw. Harmony screams as it goes through and all the adults go crazy! Once the box is opened the little girl retorts, "I'm going to be... an actress!!!" Cut to Pink Panther style opening credits.
So, just how did Harry get to the party?
Harry has become a petty thief, and is on the run when he happens upon a room where there is a screen test for a new detective movie (apparently Colin Farrell is too expensive)! Harry has never acted before, but he nails the audition and they whisk him away to L.A. He's soon supping on the finest champagne, and hobnobbing with all the important people at a poolside party. He has an acerbic wit for a one-liner, such as "You're mouth is a recommended place to put a sock!"
Harmony comes from a small town in Indiana where the motto was; when in doubt, cut up a pig! She is sassy and wicked smart, and into detective novels. Because of these she dreams of getting away to a life on the coast. She soon puts herself on a bus to L.A. There is a scene that sums up the different roads these kids have taken to Hollywood. She accuses Harry of grabbing her tit and her reaction is, "That's life, no biggy!" He was actually getting rid of a huge spider crawling over her whilst asleep, but is offended by her shrugging it off as no big deal. "If someone grabs your tit, that's a biggy" he says. "What kind of people are you hanging out with?" She just expects everyone to do these things as she's become accustomed to that type of treatment. Harry is different; he knows the difference between right and wrong. She needs Harry to help her as she thinks he's a real detective.
Gay Parry is a tough as nails private eye who knows how to dodge a flying glass in a bar, without so much as a flinch! Harry takes a beating at the party, and Parry comes to pick him up. He is assigned to help train up Harry to perfect the detective role. He has a very dry wit and carries a mean 'faggot' gun. The explanation of this is well worth waiting for!
This trio are thrown together from a fictional scenario into a real life murder mystery. It's up to you to determine who's all in on it, as there are twists and double crosses afoot.
Cast:
Harry Lockhart - Robert Downey Jr
Gay Parry - Val Kilmer
Harmony Faith Lane - Michelle Monaghan
Harlan Dexter - Corbin Bernsen
The interplay between the three main leads is electric. Monaghan is smoking in her best role to date. Her razor-sharp, foul mouthed dialogue is delivered with a vulnerable quality that suits her character to a tee. However, the scenes between Downey Jr and a slightly chubby looking Kilmer are what really make this tick and take it to another level. They play off each other amazingly well. The running banter between the pair is hilarious. Kilmer does not camp up his gay character which is also a refreshing change. He plays against type to remarkable effect.
Warning: This film contains one of the funniest sequences I've ever seen involving a lost body part! I haven't laughed so hard in ages, you may lose a spleen. You will also pick up great tips of exactly what not to do in a crime scene. For example, do not happen upon one when you visit the little boy's room! The death of Protocop is also wickedly cruel. The comedy is best served black in here, which makes it all the more delicious to me. A couple of scenes annoyed me early on when the action is cut and Harry, as the narrator asks us why the scene was even included in the movie. I think I just had to adjust myself to a completely unique narration style that the film presents. Looking back, I am actually grateful for the short pauses, as the action and sharp dialogue are constant and the pace so fast, that it can leave you breathless. I think it was asking us to learn how to be the detective, just as Harry was trying to learn himself.
If you haven't seen a good film since True Romance, this is the one for you! It is the first to be directed by Shane Black. He needs to do more as his direction is watertight - he is also the same man responsible for writing The Lethal Weapon films. I just pray that his next move is to direct a buddy cop movie starring Downey Jr and Kilmer.
I have a feeling that Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a film which I will be able to watch time and time again, and pick up more jokes and clues each time. This was not a major box office success, but I think that through word of mouth, this will become an all time classic. It has so many ingredients needed to make a good film, and is a success on all levels. Romance, murder mystery, black humour, old school film noir, mistaken identity, you name it, this has got the lot.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was based upon the novel, 'Bodies are where you find them', by Brett Halliday.
Rated 15 (some nudity, filthy dialogue and violence)
Running time 99 minutes
Released 2005
DVD is currently available on Amazon at £2.98
Downside - there are no extras on this DVD release
This review may also be posted on ciao
Summary: A movie to fall in love with over and over again
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