This blog is for all the movie fans out there (and really, who DOESNT like movies?). The site will feature humorous critical posts about movies new and old, updates on my own experiences in the independent film industry, and a "Top 5 ____" list here and there. Reader feedback is encouraged and ultimately necessary for this blog's success, and to not hurt my feelings.

6/27/10

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang



Sandwiched between my forays to the cinema this week, I found the time to watch Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which easily proved to be the cinematic highlight of my week.

Perhaps it has to do with the weak competition it was up against; but I honestly feel Kiss Kiss Bang Bang stacks up well in the mystery/suspense genre, especially in the last decade. It is a solidly constructed thriller with a terrific cast and script.

Shane Black, the writer of the first Lethal Weapon film, makes his directorial debut with this 2005 homage to 40's Raymond Chandler style mysteries. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang stars Robert Downey Jr. as its anti-hero Harry, a down on his luck petty thief who finds himself whisked from NYC to Los Angeles. He falls under the tutelage of Gay Perry (Val Kilmer), an upscale private investigator who is also the single most sarcastic individual on the planet. In the vein of the pulp fiction stories of Chandler or Dashiell Hammett, the film has many a twist and turn, a nefarious plot or two, and a substantial body count by the time the credits roll.

I really enjoy this film. The repartee between Harry (witless outsider) and Perry (sarcastic A-hole) keeps the scenes they share clicking. Michelle Monaghan is appealing as Harry's dream girl Harmony. As for the plot, it is suitably confusing for those who like their movies to have lots of twists.

One of the best things about the film is the self-referential attitude it takes, particularly in the narration by Downey Jr. Movies taking place in L.A., amongst the celebrity culture, need to do more to appeal to movie buffs such as myself, but Kiss Kiss Bang Bang does not disappoint in that regard (including references to Lord of the Rings, Joe Pesci, and Hollywood endings in general).

I have to admit I would probably rank this higher if it wasn't for its similarity to one of my favorite movies, L.A. Confidential. While it is inferior to the latter, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is still very good. I would recommend it to anyone who likes movies that make you think.

Production Value: 4/5
Acting Performances: 4/5
Humor: 4/5
Val Kilmer Jerk-o-meter: 8/5

Overall: 8/10
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2 comments:

  1. Brian Christenson6/27/10, 2:27 PM

    Told you you'd like it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Greg6/28/10, 12:12 AM

    Yeah man, thanks for the suggestion!

    ReplyDelete

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