It's incredibly odd. Almost a fusion of neo-noir and western, it's little more than a series of armed showdowns that end in one of two ways. It's never really explained, but the gunfights are presented as some sort of game in which people are cordially invited to their own execution. "Fast Draw" Goldblum (perhaps a little miscast as the mobs main gun) either shoots some guy dead at the end of the scene or plays his trump card: he knows where the bosses girl is, and then exits stage left. Each happens three or four times with the apparent aim of killing off everyone in the credits.
The plot could be described in a sentence, everyone is a caricature and it's a bit like watching a Dick Tracy movie that's taking itself a little too seriously, but it does have a few redeeming features. By no means any of the actors finest work, they do all appear to be having a good deal of fun, hamming it up and swanning about in nightclubs carrying guns. Much of the dialogue, especially from Gabriel Byrne, I found incredibly pleasing. It's sharp and poetic, with puns, plays on words and running themes. It's entirely unnatural and makes the whole affair seem very peculiar, almost dreamlike (one character has just been released from the nut house and I began to suspect it was all a fever dream) but it kept me entertained, and redeemed what would otherwise been a shockingly amateurish movie with reasonably high production values.
It reminded my, probably due to a cameo by Joey Bishop (his son being the director) of old Rat Pack movies, that were chaotic affairs that seemed more concerned with their own entertainment than the audiences. They too were slightly tangled, aimless affairs that didn't worry too much about such trivial matters as plot as they had something strong to pull them through, in that case characters in this, dialogue.
Interesting review.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen it for some time. I absolutely loved it when I first saw it though. Not sure it's aged well though.
I agree with much of your take on things - certainly not brilliant performances as such although Gabriel Byrne stands out significantly. I disagree that Goldblum is miscast though - I think he is perfectly cast.. enough to retain the cool level headed needed but intelligent enough to play a longer game than anyone else. In this respect I think there are deliberate references to Gabriel Byrnes similar character in Miller's Crossing (one of my all time fave films)whom which fills a very similar role as the quiet henchman romancing the bosses moll while playing characters off against each other until he can reap the final rewards.. i.e. the girl.
What I loved about this film though, is that it is pure comic book fantasy. For me it hits the same notes and the same pulp fiction enjoyment that makes films like Sin City and LA Confidential so immenently enjoyable. You are not asked to believe that this is a realistic scenario - but rather a fantasy one in which the rules are based in fictional reference rather than real ones. Hence, just as the characters, the entirely constructed spaces within the film are caracatures themselves.. nothing in this movie is real but rather plays on our knowledge of the references it adheres to.
Thus it is a classic post-modernist take on a gangster movie. And while to many this may come across as pretentious and too smart for its own good.. its exactly that knowledge that makes it enjoyable. There is as much bad as there is good.. you will either love it or hate it - but sometimes the best films are the ones that evoke such an emotional response and for me they can be the most enjoyable of movies.
There's nothing deep or meaningful here.. there's no message or point.. and nothing original or unique.. but it is an exercise in parody and pastiche. Arguably up its own arse but it acknowledges that and thus does so with a smirk and a knowing grin.
It is nothing more than it is - a film made up of scenes from other films and certainly doesn't stand up to it's contemporary masterpieces such as the aforementioned LA Confidential, Millers Crossing, Sin City, The Untouchables or The Usual Suspects.. however for me it is still a very enjoyable pulp fiction comic book of a film, executed extremely efficiently with some brilliant dialogue and some fantastic set-pieces.
Pulp is a really good word for it. Aiming to reflect and amuse rather than anything especially significant.
ReplyDeleteWhen I say miscast I mean as the tough guy of the group, as a character he's allowed to do what he does best: be Jeff Goldblum.
hehe yeh well he's one of my favourites so I'm bound to like him. Just wish he was in a lot more and decent stuff too.. not rubbish trite like Independence Day or Jurassic Park (although he did play my fave character from the book).
ReplyDeleteSo please speak to his agent Ziggy and get him back doing decent films