Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

Popularity:

Up 35% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Shane Black

Writers (WGA):

Brett Halliday (novel) (in part)
Shane Black (screen story)
(more)

Release Date:

20 October 2005 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery

Tagline:

SeX. MurdEr. MyStery. Welcome to the party.

Plot:

A murder mystery brings together a private eye, a struggling actress, and a thief masquerading as an actor.

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Actor | Thief | Party | Murder

Awards:

5 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Robert Downey Jr.	...	Harry Lockhart
Val Kilmer	...	Gay Perry
Michelle Monaghan	...	Harmony Faith Lane
Corbin Bernsen	...	Harlan Dexter
Dash Mihok	...	Mr. Frying Pan
Larry Miller	...	Dabney Shaw
Rockmond Dunbar	...	Mr. Fire
Shannyn Sossamon	...	Pink Hair Girl
Angela Lindvall	...	Flicka
Indio Falconer Downey	...	Harry Lockhart - Age 9
Ariel Winter	...	Harmony Faith Lane - Age 7
Duane Carnahan	...	Chainsaw Kid
Josh Richman	...	Richie
Martha Hackett	...	Pistol Woman
Nancy Fish	...	N.Y. Casting Woman
Bill McAdams Jr.	...	N.Y. Cop
Tanja Reichert	...	B-Movie Actress
Jake McKinnon	...	Creature
Stephanie Pearson	...	Harmony Faith Lane - Age 14
Christopher Gilman	...	Protocop (as Chris Gilman)
Brendan Fehily	...	Local News Reporter
David Newsom	...	Agent Type (as David Newsome)
Judie Aronson	...	Gift Bag Girl
Ali Hillis	...	Marleah
Wiley M. Pickett	...	Homicide Cop (as Wiley Pickett)
Joe Keyes	...	Lobby Cop
Daniel Bobby Tuttle	...	Hotel Concierge (as Bobby Tuttle)
Jake Eberle	...	Patrol Cop
Saida Pagan	...	News Anchor (as Saida Rodriguez-Pagan)
Lela Edgar	...	Party Girl
Daniel Browning Smith	...	Rubber Boy
Stevie	...	Pink Hair Girl's Dog
Teresa Herrera	...	Newswoman
Kathy Lamkin	...	Woman in Hospital Blues
Evan Parke	...	Dexter Clinic Guard
Vincent Laresca	...	Aurelio
Brian Simpson	...	Dexter Goon
Cole S. McKay	...	Dexter Goon (as Cole McKay)
Ben Hernandez Bray	...	Dexter Goon (as Ben Bray)
Harrison Young	...	Harmony's Dad
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joel Michaely	...	Eugene (credit only)
Jessica Anderson	...	Upscale Women (uncredited)
Richard Alan Brown	...	Harry Lockhart - Age 16 (uncredited)
Mary Castro	...	Model at Party (uncredited)
Justin A. Davis	...	Cool Guy at Party (uncredited)
Deanna Dozier	...	Kristin (uncredited)
Sebastian Feldman	...	Pool Party Guest (uncredited)
Laurence Fishburne	...	Bear in Genaros Beer Commercial (voice) (uncredited)
Richard Grieco	...	B-Movie Actor (uncredited)
Jaelin Palmer	...	Pie Eating Contest Kid (uncredited)
Cat Rowe	...	Pool Party Girl (uncredited)
Jasen Salvatore	...	Actor at Audition (uncredited)
Steve Somers	...	Young Harmony's Dad (uncredited)
Tom Willett	...	Abe Lincoln (uncredited)
Rachel Zeskind	...	Woman in Pool (uncredited)

Directed by
Shane Black

Writing credits (WGA)
Brett Halliday		(novel "Bodies Are Where You Find Them") (in part)
Shane Black		(screen story)
Shane Black		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jessica Alan	....	associate producer
Susan Downey	....	executive producer (as Susan Levin)
Carrie Morrow	....	co-producer
Steve Richards	....	executive producer
Joel Silver	....	producer

Original Music by
John Ottman

Cinematography by
Michael Barrett		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jim Page

Casting by
Mary Gail Artz
Barbara Cohen

Production Design by
Aaron Osborne

Art Direction by
Erin Cochran

Set Decoration by
Jeannie Gunn
Mary-Margaret Stratton		(set decorations)

Costume Design by
Christopher J. Kristoff

Makeup Department
Robin Black	....	special makeup effects artist
Wade Daily	....	key makeup artist: second unit
Scott H. Eddo	....	key makeup artist (as Scott Eddo)
Sean Flanigan	....	key hair stylist
Lee Joyner	....	special makeup effects artist (as Lee Goyner)
Ralis Kahn	....	special makeup effects artist
Jim Kail	....	makeup artist (as James R. Kail)
Michael Moore	....	key hair stylist: second unit
Nelly Recchia	....	special makeup effects artist
Francine Shermaine	....	hair stylist
Brenda Solomon	....	hair special effects
Cale Thomas	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Carrie Morrow	....	unit production manager
Scott Fort	....	production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ty Arnold	....	first assistant director: second unit
Ty Arnold	....	second assistant director
Marco Black	....	first assistant director
Kurt Bryant	....	second unit director
Vernon Davidson	....	second second assistant director (as Vernon A. Davidson)
Steve Lonano	....	additional second second assistant director (as Stephen Lonano)
David Waters	....	second assistant director: second unit (as David 'Muddy' Waters)

Art Department
Mike Carrillo	....	property master (as Michael Carillo)
Danielle Clemenza	....	art department assistant
Robert Consing	....	storyboard artist
Larce Crawford	....	construction foreman
Joe Del Monte	....	construction coordinator
Gustavo R. Ferreyra	....	prop shop
Charlene 'Charli' Gerhardt	....	buyer
Robert Hale	....	head paint foreman
Mark Kusy	....	property assistant (as Mark S. Kusy)
Jason Lasser	....	set designer
William F. McLaughlin	....	property master: second unit (as William McLoughlin)
Charles Reyes	....	labor foreman (as Charles J. Reyes Jr.)
Buddy Ray Reynolds	....	assistant property master (as Buddy Ray Reynolds-Maichel)
Carisa Rosenthal	....	on-set dresser
Ron Sica	....	lead (as Ronald Sica)
Andy Swan	....	on-set dresser: second unit (as Andrew R. Swan)
Audrey Zaldumbide	....	graphics designer
Aileen Febles	....	art coordinator (uncredited)
Scott Kitchen	....	construction foreman (uncredited)
Michele Munoz	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Jason Baldwin Stewart	....	assistant food stylist (uncredited)
David Tomeo	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Richard Adrian	....	supervising sound editor
Christopher Alba	....	first assistant sound editor
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Brent Brewington	....	utility sound
David E. Campbell	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dave Campbell)
Michael C. Casper	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Mike Casper)
Valerie Davidson	....	supervising foley editor
William R. Dean	....	sound effects editor (as Bill Dean)
André Dias	....	dubbing editor
André Dias	....	dubbing mixer
Ezra Dweck	....	pre-dub mixer
Aleksandr Gruzdev	....	pre-dub mixer (as Alex Gruzdev)
Paul Hackner	....	dialogue editor
Mark Larry	....	supervising sound editor
Daniel J. Leahy	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dan Leahy)
Del Martin	....	digital engineer
David McRell	....	digital engineer
James Morioka	....	dialogue editor
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer
Jason Piatt	....	foley mixer (as Jason Platt)
Troy Porter	....	adr mixer
Ken Strain	....	boom operator (as Kenneth Strain)
Stephen Tibbo	....	production sound mixer (as Stephen A. Tibbo)
Von Varga	....	utility sound
Donna G. Walker	....	post sound operations
Ezra Dweck	....	additional sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Aleksandr Gruzdev	....	additional sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Eddie Kim	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Charles Cooley	....	key special effects
Ricky Farns	....	special effects senior technician
Timothy B. Graham	....	special effects
Steven Munson	....	special effects crew: special effects
Mark Roberts	....	special effects technician
Tom Seymour	....	special effects technician (as Thomas Seymour)
J.D. Streett	....	special effects supervisor
Blumes Tracy	....	special effects technician
Sandra Stewart	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Adam Avery	....	additional visual effects
Stephen Bender	....	additional visual effects
John Breslin	....	visual effects supervisor: Photon VFX
Dean Cranney	....	data management
Richard David Hall	....	digital compositor: Photon VFX (as Richard Hall)
Daniel Harvey	....	visual effects producer: Photon VFX
Josh Kent	....	digital compositor: Lola Visual Effects
Scott Kinsey	....	digital compositor: Lola Visual Effects
Adam Lisagor	....	visual effects coordinator: Lola Visual Effects
Michael Meagher	....	visual effects executive producer: Lola Visual Effects (as Tony Meagher)
Warwick Mellow	....	digital artist: Photon VFX
Damon Milman	....	digital artist: Photon VFX
Thomas Nittmann	....	visual effects producer: Lola Visual Effects
Kim Pearce	....	senior systems administrator
Cheryl Potter	....	visual effects editor: in-house
Murray Smallwood	....	digital artist: Photon VFX
Craig Stevenson	....	digital artist: Photon VFX
Colin Strause	....	3D technical supervisor: Lola Visual Effects
Greg Strause	....	visual effects supervisor: Lola Visual Effects
Edson Williams	....	visual effects supervisor: Lola Visual Effects
Martin Wiseman	....	digital effects producer: Photon VFX
Loeng Wong-Savun	....	Inferno artist: Lola Visual Effects
Yoshiya Yamada	....	3D artist: Lola Visual Effects
Craig Clarke	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Nicky Ladas	....	system administrator (uncredited)
Brian Nugent	....	compositor (uncredited)
Loren Robinson	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Rick Avery	....	stunts
Ted Barba	....	stunts
Ivan Bates	....	stunts
Robin Lynn Bonaccorsi	....	stunts (as Robin Bonaccorsi)
Chuck Borden	....	stunts
Brandy Bourdeaux	....	stunts
Kurt Bryant	....	stunt coordinator
Joe Bucaro III	....	stunts (as Joe Buccaro)
Annie Chasse	....	stunts
Brian Christensen	....	stunts
Edward Conna	....	stunts (as Eddie Conna)
Azalea Davila	....	stunts
Thomas Dewier	....	stunts
Deanna Dozier	....	stunts
Randy Hall	....	stunts
Tom Harper	....	stunts
Michael Haynes	....	stunts
Nicola C. Hindshaw	....	stunts (as Nicola Hindshaw)
Al Jones	....	stunts
Brett A. Jones	....	stunts (as Brett Jones)
Irving E. Lewis	....	stunts (as Irving Lewis)
Frank Lloyd	....	stunts
Ray Lykins	....	stunts
Brian Machleit	....	stunts
Carl Milinac	....	stunts
Michael Owen	....	stunts
Denney Pierce	....	stunts
J.P. Ruggerio	....	stunts
Jean Paul Ruggiero	....	stunts
Michael J. Sarna	....	stunts (as Mike Sarna)
Patrick J. Statham	....	stunts (as Pat Statham)
Tim Walkey	....	stunts (as Timmothy Walkey)
Garrett Warren	....	stunts
Michael Groneman	....	stunts (uncredited)
Brian Simpson	....	stunt performer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John B. Aronson	....	director of photography: second unit (as John Aronson)
Paul C. Babin	....	camera operator: "a" camera (as Paul Babin)
Greg Banta	....	assistant chief lighting technician: second unit (as Gregory S. Banta)
Jack Bauer	....	best boy
Jennifer Bell	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Massimo Bordonaro	....	ad/pub services
John Bramley	....	still photographer
Doug Chartier	....	dolly grip
Pat Dames	....	key grip: second unit (as James P. Dames)
Eric M. Davis	....	lighting technician
Cameron Duncan	....	camera loader
Ron Edmonson	....	best boy grip: second unit
Craig Fikse	....	Steadicam operator (as Craig Fiske)
Craig Fikse	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Craig Fiske)
Christopher Franey	....	lighting technician
Cory Geryak	....	chief lighting technician
Nathaniel Goodman	....	camera operator: second unit
Jared Greenstein	....	rigging electrician
James Heywood	....	grip
Joel Jaspan	....	dolly grip
Ronald A. Miller	....	rigging grip
Keith Morgan	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)
David Morton	....	chief lighting technician: second unit
David Morton	....	gaffer: second unit
Dale Myrand	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
C. Roy Nigra	....	dolly grip: second unit
Dara Norman	....	electrician
Craig Peiffer	....	key grip
David Richert	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Paul Santoni	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Mike Shaheen	....	24 frame video operator
Mick Spitalnick	....	grip (uncredited)
Robert Sterry	....	video assist operator
Larry Sushinski	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Neil Toussaint	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Michael D. Weldon	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Scott Whitbread	....	second assistant camera: first unit
Brian Woronec	....	rigging gaffer
Ryan Huston	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Kevin Tiesiera	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)
Joseph D. Urbanczyk	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
Scott Whitbread	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Animation Department
Gary Mau	....	animator: main title animation

Casting Department
Jennifer Bender	....	extras casting
Farrah Fox-Collis	....	casting associate
Mariann H.W. Lee	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Virginia Burton	....	costume supervisor
Bob Moore Jr.	....	set costumer (as Robert Moore)
Courtney Ormond	....	on-set costumer
Courtney Ormond	....	on-set costumer: second unit
Courtney Ormond	....	set costumer
Nancy Smytka	....	on-set costumer (as Nancy E. Smytka)
Douglas J. Stewart	....	textile artist (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Tony D'Amore	....	digital intermediate colorist
Vince Filippone	....	first assistant editor
Lauren Giordano	....	editor: main titles
Keith Shaw	....	colorist: mastering
Jeff Smithwick	....	film timer (uncredited)
Devin Sterling	....	digital intermediate producer (uncredited)

Music Department
Andrea Datzman	....	additional orchestrator
Amanda Goodpaster	....	music editor
Bruce Harvey	....	conductor
John Ottman	....	music score producer
John Ottman	....	orchestrator
Pismo	....	rapper
Randall Poster	....	music supervisor
Jeremy Raub	....	music editor
George Shaw	....	additional orchestrator
Casey Stone	....	music scoring mixer
Frank Macchia	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
David Sabee	....	orchestra contractor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Morris Aroesti	....	driver
Troy Gould	....	transportation co-captain
David Travis Grieb	....	driver: cast
Dave Hannah	....	driver
Guy Merrick	....	transportation co-captain
David Oppenheim	....	picture car coordinator
Jack Jay Reece	....	driver
Griff Ruggles	....	transportation coordinator
Ronald Stinton	....	transportation co-captain (as Ronald R. Stinton)
Alberto Coto	....	transportation (uncredited)
Shawn Coulter	....	transportation (uncredited)
L. Chip Crosby Jr.	....	additional driver (uncredited)
Charlie Ping	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Rachel Aberly	....	unit publicist
Jason Altieri	....	production assistant
Aaron Auch	....	assistant: Joel Silver
Sim Bajaj	....	assistant: Joel Silver
Robert Benavides Jr.	....	production assistant
Stephen Bender	....	production executive
Ardy Brent Carlson	....	production secretary (as Brent Carlson)
Kyle Cooper	....	title sequence: executive producer
Dominique Derrenger	....	second assistant accountant
Guin Dill	....	animal trainer
Ethan Erwin	....	assistant: Susan Levin
Scott Fort	....	production office coordinator (as R.S. Fort)
Charles W. Francis	....	production accountant
Kristi Frankenheimer	....	location manager
Kevin Goetz	....	commercial director
Michael Goetz	....	commercial director
Meghan Heritage	....	production assistant
Wendall Hinkle	....	assistant location manager (as Wendall S. Hinkle)
Brett Howard	....	assistant: Shane Black
Derek Hurd	....	craft service
J.D. Iriarte	....	assistant: Val Kilmer
Cati Jean	....	choreographer: goth party
David Kessler	....	set medic
Ryan Krayser	....	production assistant
Adam Kuhn	....	production associate
Josh Kuhn	....	key craft service
Kenneth LaFayette	....	first assistant accountant
T.J. Lewis	....	production assistant
Mathew Lorenceau	....	photo double: Robert Downey Jr.
Dan Magee	....	production assistant
John Malakoff	....	production travel consultant
Jay Mason	....	script supervisor
Paul McCloskey	....	assistant: Steve Richards
Haley McLane	....	script supervisor: second unit
Sarah Meyer	....	production assistant
Michael Moran	....	production assistant
Stephanie A. Purdy	....	animal trainer (as Stephanie Purdy)
Jimmy Rich	....	assistant: Robert Downey Jr.
Jacob Riehle	....	production assistant
Anthony Roza	....	production assistant (as Tony Roza)
Janell M. Sammelman	....	production assistant (as Janell Sammelman)
Eva M. Schroeder	....	key assistant location manager
Stephen Schuster	....	title designer: Prologue
Asa Shumskas-Tait	....	production assistant
Todd Spears	....	payroll accountant
Andre C. Verderame	....	production assistant: Val Kilmer (as Andre Verderame)
Samir Vural	....	production assistant
Wesley Walker	....	production assistant
Anne Marie Wilson	....	production assistant
Danny Yount	....	title designer
Andrew Zilch	....	assistant production office coordinator
Paul D. Boydston	....	location manager (uncredited)
Ardy Brent Carlson	....	production coordinator: re-shoots (uncredited)
Rob Gomes	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond company representative (uncredited)
Kory Kruckenberg	....	assistant engineer: scoring (uncredited)
Ann Shimabukuro	....	additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Michael Ryan Sikov	....	assistant to executive producer (uncredited)
Steve Solomon	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Daniel Veluzat	....	location liaison (uncredited)

Thanks
Michael A. Simpson	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Warner Bros.
• Silver Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2005) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Baltic Film (2006) (Latvia) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Karo Premiere (2006) (Armenia) (theatrical)
• Karo Premiere (2006) (Belarus) (theatrical)
• Karo Premiere (2006) (Kazakhstan) (theatrical)
• Karo Premiere (2006) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Sam Film (2005) (Iceland) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2005) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome International (2005) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome International (2005) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Norge (2005) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Tuck (2005-2006) (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures Russia (2005) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Village Roadshow Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment (2005) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. F.E. (2006) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2005) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2005) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2005) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2005) (Ireland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2005) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (Poland) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (2005) (Greece) (all media)
• SubTV (2009) (Finland) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2005) (India) (all media)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (Argentina) (all media)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD) (HD DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Lola Visual Effects
• Photon VFX (visual effects and animation: beer commercial)

Other Companies

• Absolute Hollywood  special thanks
• BeBee  night lights
• Center Staging  special thanks
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Danetracks  sound editing and design
• Danetracks  sound post-production
• Echo Post  AVID media composer
• Film & Video Stock Shots  footage provided by
• Getty Images  footage provided by
• Global Effects  special thanks
• Hollywood Fires  special thanks
• J.L. Fisher  camera cranes and dollies
• Joe Dugan Studio Rentals  special thanks
• KNB EFX Group  special thanks (as KNB Effects)
• La-La Land Records  soundtrack released by
• Movie Motion  special thanks
• Panavision Remote Systems  remote cranes and heads
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Paws for Effect  animals by
• Prologue Films  main and end titles designed and produced by (as Prologue)
• Sonoton Recorded Music  music
• Studio Services  special thanks
• Technicolor  color
• Technicolor  digital color correction
• Technicolor  electronic dailies
• UFO Cranes  special thanks
• William F. White International  grip and electric package (as William F. White)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language, violence and sexuality/nudity

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA15+ | Belgium:KT | Brazil:16 | Canada:14A | Canada:18+ (Ontario) | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Greece:K-17 | Iceland:16 | Ireland:15A | Italy:VM14 | Malaysia:18SG (DVD) | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Philippines:R-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #41234)

Filming Locations:

Monumental sculpture "Double Ascension" 1973 Herbert Bayer 505 South Flower St, Los Angeles, California USA

Company:

Warner Bros.

Trivia:

Although the film leads us to believe that the characters played by Robert Downey Jr. and Michelle Monaghan grew up together, there's actually an 11 year age difference between the two actors.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Perry and Harry approach the log cabin, the shadows of the camera crew can be seen upon the bushes.

Quotes:

Harmony:You think I'm amazing. You do. Cause that's who I told you I'd be. That was the game plan.
Harry:Yeah, well, you know what, it worked.
Harmony:You know what? No one else thinks so.
Harry:What, my opinion doesn't count?
Harmony:Actually, no it doesn't. Cause you're new here. If you just look around, there's younger and there's better.
Harry:I don't want younger and better, I want you!

Movie Connections:

References Farewell, My Lovely (1975)

Soundtrack:

BLUE CHRISTMAS

Shrewdly written, expertly delivered comic film-noir

Directed and co-written by Shane Black; based on a novel, "Bodies Are Where You Find Them" written by Brett Halliday; and starring Robert Downey Jnr, Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan.

A terrific opening credit sequence easily sets up the audacity and chagrin of the film for an appreciative audience. In essence, these are the reasons why you need to see this movie: the razor sharp wit, shockingly fast-paced and hysterical dialogue, pulp-fiction-esquire vibe, its pure cheesiness and the cynicism of a beat up old paperback detective novel.

Got you yet? Alright, maybe an explanation of the seemingly simple plot is warranted. It begins with a ridiculously funny set up resulting in Downey's character being paired up with Kilmer to observe the latter in his job as a private detective. They hook up with a down-on-her luck actress who brings a case for the sleuths. This synopsis constitutes gross misrepresentation on my part as things get remarkably complex. How so? Well, even the lead the character (who also is purposefully pathetic as narrator) takes time out within the movie to remember where he is in telling the story. There are even snippets of dialogue where the characters attempt to fill in the gaps or actually remind themselves of what has happened thus far in the movie.

Downey, Kilmer and Monaghan are all caricatures drawn from popular references of literature, movies and art. All however, are larger than life, exhibit great chemistry and for a movie buff, it is heaven to witness the self referential exercises and hear the narrator shred every narrating convention applicable. Downey's performance is remarkable (neurotic, comic, vulnerable and charming). I have never seen Kilmer in such a well-defined, uproarious piece of work. Monaghan is also integral to the trio and shines exuding a brash, fighting and sexy appeal. She brought back fond memories of early Kathleen Turner and Rene Russo. The fact that her look screams Renee Zellweger, is not a bad thing either.

Black became famous in the 1980s for writing the hit buddy movies: Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout and The Long Kiss Goodnight. As a first time director, he does well keeping the frenetic pace and allowing the audience to catch up only to get lost time and time again. The style is so disarmingly effective, that at times I shook my head in confusion or found my hands against my mouth, agape in shock. I also think that in creating such a brilliant script that Black may have blacklisted himself in Hollywood for mirroring its supposed fame and glamor and exposing its not too pretty side. His one-liners and connected sub-plots are not typical and Kilmer and Downey make magic with their banter and clinical delivery.

All the ingredients of a pulp-noir novella can be found, even employing a structure of chapter-type headings within the movie. Parallel story lines unfold and given plot assumptions are turned over, always with achingly funny results. Even the clichés are clever e.g. a tough guy predictably crashes through a glass table, or body after body turns up, to haunt the characters.

I strongly recommend the movie, given the talent of Downey and Kilmer. Downey should be honored with a Lead Actor Oscar nomination; while Kilmer deserves a Supporting Actor nod. It thrilled me to see them both in their element, as I was on the verge of disavowing them as marquee/box-office draws. The screenplay should also attract Oscar consideration.

One of the year's best films and one of those rare movies where you'll consistently find something new to laugh at, when viewed each of a dozen times.