Watching the Detectives: Robert Downey Jr. is Harry Lockhart and Val Kilmer is “Gay� Perry in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

January 2nd, 2008 Posted by Ian W | Action, Comedy, Movie Reviews, Thriller | no comments

Petty thief Harry Lockhart stumbles into an audition while trying to evade the police and finds himself jetting off to L.A. where he shows his face at a Hollywood party, meets gay P.I. Perry van Shrike aka “Gay” Perry and gets caught up in a murder plot.

I’d bought this on my younger brother’s recommendation but, truth be told, wasn’t really expecting much, just your average dumb Hollywood buddy movie. How wrong I was! This is a gem of a film that manages to work as a detective movie, a comedy and an insightful jab at the fakeness of Tinsel Town.  It’s also got some politically incorrect humour which scores it another plus point.

Michelle Monaghan does well as Downey’s love interest come femme fatale while Val Kilmer has a ball as the tough as nails gay detective. This is Downey’s film though and he knows it, from the comical voice over to some gross out comedy, he’s perfect. Lockhart’s a nice guy whose heart is in the right place even if the rest of him usually isn’t and thanks to Downey we’re rooting for him to make good.

Shane Black disappeared for about 10 years after The Long Kiss Goodnight and, whatever he was doing, it was obviously time well spent as this is by far the best thing he’s ever put his name to. Some scenes quite simply left me in awe at the deranged mind that could think this stuff up, the final shoot-out being a case in point. It’s also the first thing he’s directed but hopefully not the last as it’s as visually inventive as the script is literally, with plenty of sight gags as well as Lockhart’s quick fire jibes.

2007 Cinema Round-up

January 2nd, 2008 Posted by Ian W | Movie Reviews | no comments

I’d been meaning to write some cinema reviews last year but never seemed to get around to it. So here’s a potted overview of my cinema viewing in 2007, roughly in the order I saw them.

1) Apocalypto
I rather enjoyed this but was left with the impression Mel Gibson thought he’d made an important film when in fact all he gave us was an action movie set in the jungle.

2) Pan’s Labyrinth
Beautiful in every respect, an outstanding visual achievement that still packed a powerful emotional punch. One of the best films of the year (although it was really from 2006).

3) Smokin’ Aces
Much maligned but I enjoyed this. Definitely style over substance but that doesn’t make if a bad film, although it was a letdown after Joe Carnahan’s previous film, Narc.

4) The Last King of Scotland
One of my least favorite films of the year. Hollywood has a habit of playing fast and loose with history but trying to pass off a novel as a true story was a step to far, and to top it off I found James McAvoy intensely irritating. Forest Whitaker was exceptional though.

5) The Fountain
Some found this impregnable but to me it was a simple story of the undying nature of love that was as gorgeous to look at, in its own way, as Pan’s Labyrinth. Another of the year’s best.