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Parting Shots (1998)After learning he is dying from cancer an failed photographer illegally buys a pistol and decides to go vigilante and get his revenge on all those who have made his life a misery. Director:Michael Winner |
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Title: Parting Shots (1998)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Chris Rea | ... |
Harry Sterndale
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| Felicity Kendal | ... |
Jill Saunders
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| John Cleese | ... |
Maurice Walpole
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| Bob Hoskins | ... |
Gerd Layton
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| Diana Rigg | ... |
Lisa
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| Ben Kingsley | ... |
Renzo Locatelli
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| Joanna Lumley | ... |
Freda
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| Oliver Reed | ... | ||
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Gareth Hunt | ... |
Inspector Bass
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Nicholas Gecks | ... |
Detective Constable Ray
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Patrick Ryecart | ... |
Cleverley
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| Peter Davison | ... |
John
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Nicky Henson | ... |
Askew
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Caroline Langrishe | ... |
Vanessa
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| Edward Hardwicke | ... |
Dr. Joseph
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Harry Sterndale, a failed photographer, is told that he has only three months to live due to him getting cancer. After thinking things over he decides that since he is dying anyway that he will kill or destroy all the people that has ever crossed or hurt him during his entire life. So Parting Shots becomes literally the shots fired by Harry when he knows he is parting this earth. After all, he will be dead anyway long before he can come to trial and get his just desserts from society. Harry even falls in love with Jill and hires an assassin to kill him in style. However there is just one small problem with Harry's master plan - the cancer diagnosis is totally inaccurate and now he's got a hitman on his trail and several policemen want to talk to him over some murders... Written by Lee Horton <Leeh@tcp.co.uk>
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When Harry found out he had six weeks to live, something snapped...and it wasn't his camera.Parents Guide:
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Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
14 May 1999 (UK) See more »Also Known As:
Aspondoi filoi See more »Company Credits
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Michael Winner's Parting Shots is a quite appalling, unfunny 'comedy' with the worst acting performance that you are ever likely to see. For those who think Keanu Reeves is wooden, have a look at this and see what you think of Chris Rea.
I won't go into the plot because it is so hackneyed but instead, I'll make a few observations. Firstly, the 'twist' is laughable and we guessed it during the first act. Next, the concept of a 'gun pub' is frankly laughable - the police refer to a pub in the film by saying 'that's a gun pub, isn't it'. If they knew this, why haven't they closed it down. Obviously this leads to our hero (a man with one facial expression) being able to walk into a pub and literally say that he wants to buy a gun - I don't think so.
In fact, the role of the police beggars belief - at one point, about forty arrive to arrest the perpetrator of the murders. He tells the guy in charge that it wasn't him and then evades them all by slipping out the back. If our police really were this useless, there would be mass anarchy on the streets.
Finally, it is a sad final film for Oliver Reed (who clearly looks ill). He surely deserves much better despite wasting a lot of his career. Don't be tempted by the fact that the likes of John Cleese and Ben Kingsley are in this either - Cleese reprises his role from the Sainsbury's ads while Kingsley clearly couldn't care.
Thankfully, I didn't part with any money to watch it.