This movie doesn't kill, it just wounds slightly
Written: Jun 07 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good cast
Cons: Bad script
The Bottom Line: A bit of a disappointment. It could and should have been much better. Wait for second run or video.
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| zenda's Full Review: Hollywood Homicide |
I have been patiently waiting to see this film. It stars one of my favorite actors, a star who defines his generation in films. A brilliant actor, yet underappreciated by the critics. Maybe because you can never see him acting. He makes it look so real and so natural. We have cheered his thrilling adventures. We have been moved by his sensitive performances. We have laughed at him and with him many times. And put him in a big budget film, we all flock to get in line at the local cineplex. He's been off the screen for way too long. He's back now. Josh Hartnett has finally made another film!
Just kidding! (But you saw that coming, didn't you?) Of course, I'm actually referring to Mr. Hartnett's co-star in "Hollywood Homicide", Harrison Ford.
Harrison and Josh play a couple of LAPD detectives in their new film. Their boss (Keith David) assigns them to head up the investigation of the murders of a rap group as they came off stage in a local nightclub. It seems they still haven't solved their last case, and maybe they will do better on this one.
I'm not surprised. Neither of them seem all that interested in police work. Joe Gavilan (Mr. Ford) is selling real estate on the side. At least he is trying to, without much success. His personal finances are stretched to the breaking point, which will happen if he doesn't unload his place on Mt. Olympus. K. C. Calden (Mr. Hartnett) teaches yoga and dreams of becoming an actor. He doesn't like being a police officer, but his father was, so now he is too.
Joe is also having some trouble with another cop (Bruce Greenwood). Seems Joe upstaged and embarrassed him once. Now this guy has been shifted to Internal Affairs and is out to nail Joe any way he can.
The main plot of the film is Joe and K. C. trying to solve the murders between interruptions from their musical cell phones, real estate transactions and rehearsing for playing Stanley Kowalski in "A Streetcar Named Desire" showcase that K. C. is staging himself.
Mr. Ford and Mr. Hartnett receive some terrific support in the film from not only Mr. David, Mr. Greenwood and Martin Landau as one of Joe's clients, but also from many cameos from people like Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, Robert Wagner, and Frank Sinatra Jr. . The best of these cameos are from a very funny Eric Idle and Lou Diamond Phillips in a new look that works wonders for him. Where they haven't gotten good support is from the script.
The script was written by Robert Souza, a recently retired LAPD detective of 25 years, and the film's director, Ron ("Bull Durham") Shelton. The storyline gets a bit complex in a very bad way. Everything ties into everything else.
Yes, I know, coincidences are pretty standard in this type of cop buddy film. But this is way too much. Of course, Joe walks into people wanting to buy and sell real estate, and that even ties into K. C. and his acting dreams. I could accept that in the secondary storylines. But the main storyline, the actual Hollywood homicides, ties all too neatly into their previous case, the acting dreams, Joe's foe in Internal Affairs, K. C.'s father, Joe's lovelife, and practically everything else in sight. The result of which is a script that feels very forced and artificial. Very amateur. It certainly lessened my enjoyment of the film.
The film isn't a total waste. There are a few laughs along the way. A chase sequence in Venice that is amusing, unlike the final big chase set piece that overstays its welcome. I also enjoyed the cameos. And there is that seemingly mandatory promise of a sequel that ends the film.
As for the two stars, both do a good job. But they don't really have the chemistry together of a Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in the "Lethal Weapon" films. Maybe they were a bit too lethal after all. They set a very high standard that I can't help but compare other cop buddy films to. Those two guys clicked together in a way few other sets of movie partners have. Unfair comparison? Probably so. But what can I say? I'm only human.
Do I think the film was a waste of time? No, not totally. I was annoyed with it, but not bored. I was glad to see it at a sneak the week before it opens. (Next Friday was reserved for the new Rugrats film in any case- I love those little babies.) Josh Hartnett is a likable enough actor. And it is always a pleasure to see Harrison Ford on the big screen, even if it isn't one of his best films. Not everything can be "Raiders" after all.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
zenda
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Member: Frank Ward
Location: Arlington Heights IL
Reviews written: 91
Trusted by: 33 members
About Me:
"You are young. Life has been kind to you. You will learn." "Sweeney Todd"
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