Shooting Elizabeth (1992)

Director:

Baz Taylor

Writers:

Robbie Fox (screenplay)
Baz Taylor (adaptation)

Genre:

Comedy | Thriller

Tagline:

When divorce just isn't final enough.

Plot:

An American executive living in Europe plots to murder his judgmentally, callous wife, only to get accused of actually murdering her when she disappears after leaving him over his own neurotic behavior.

Plot Keywords:

Executive | Gun Dealer | Fugitive | Murder Plot | Birthday Party

Cast

Jeff Goldblum	...	Howard Pigeon
Mimi Rogers	...	Elizabeth Pigeon
Juan Echanove	...	Charlie the Dentist
Simón Andreu	...	Angelo (as Simon Andreu)
Fernando Guillén Cuervo	...	Jose (as Fernando Guillen Cuervo)
Cristina Higueras	...	Victoria
Burt Kwouk	...	Father Chu
Ernesto Alterio	...	Prisoner
Alberto Jiménez	...	Man (as Alberto Jimenez Arias)
Santiago Álvarez	...	Accountant (as Santiago Alvarez)
Ferran Audí	...	Sebastian (as Audi Ferran)
Alicia Borrachero	...	Pillow Mint Maid
Ricard Borràs	...	Father (as Ricard Borras)
José Conde	...	Juan (as Jose Conde Cid)
Sara Fernández	...	Waitress (as Sara Fernandez)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain

Company:

Canal+

Goofs:

Continuity: Harold's birthday lasts more than a day.

Goldblum makes it watchable

Tired of 13 difficult years with his wife Elizabeth, water company executive Howard Pigeon plans her murder on their second honeymoon. However on the day he has planned the deed she disappears leaving him a Dear John note. However the police suspect that he has killed her and begin to put together enough evidence for a trial.

A silly plot is set out – but it's done with energy and that saves it. The first half is Howard plotting and the second half is him trapped in a web. The ending is a bit too tidy but it's quite sweet – bare in mind you'll have stopped looking for realism by the final scene. The thing that put me off is that it's set in Spain but it isn't used well at all – it feels like a cheap UK movie with the mix of accents and cheapish sets etc.

What saves the movie is Jeff Goldblum – although he only saves it if you like his brand of nervous Jewish tick stuff, you know, like he does in every film. He is funny and he is right out there in terms of overplaying every part of his character. Without him this would not be worth watching. Rogers isn't any good – and isn't in it too much and the mainly Spainish cast are not very funny either. Only a cameo by the great Burt Kwouk takes the eye of Goldblum.

Overall this is silly and feels cheap but Goldblum is great (unless you hate him) and he makes it worth watching.