Best Seller (1987)

A hitman approachs a writer to help him create the next best seller on his career, but the violent world he was a part of has other plans.

Director:

John Flynn

Writer:

Larry Cohen

Stars:

James Woods, Brian Dennehy, Victoria Tennant

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Woods	...	Cleve
Brian Dennehy	...	Dennis Meechum
Victoria Tennant	...	Roberta Gillian
Allison Balson	...	Holly Meechum
Paul Shenar	...	David Madlock
George Coe	...	Graham
Anne Pitoniak	...	Mrs. Foster
Mary Carver	...	Cleve's Mother
Sully Boyar	...	Monks
Kathleen Lloyd	...	Annie
Charles Tyner	...	Cleve's Father (as Harold Tyner)
E. Brian Dean	...	Taxi Driver
Jeffrey Josephson	...	Pearlman
Edward Blackoff	...	Thorn
Branscombe Richmond	...	Longshoreman #1

Storyline

Hit man Cleve approaches writer/cop Dennis about a story for his next book: How Cleve made a living, working for one of the most powerful politicians in the country. To get the story right, they travel around the country to gather statements and evidence, while strong forces use any means they can to keep the story untold.

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Plot Keywords:

armory | author | detective | police detective | exploding car | 

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Taglines:

Writing A Book Is Easy. Writing A Best Seller Is Murder.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 September 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hard Cover

Filming Locations:

World Trade Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$4,278,150

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hemdale

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sylvester Stallone enjoyed the film and called James Woods to get his opinion on director John Flynn. Woods vouched for the director and Flynn was hired to direct Stallone in Lock Up (1989).

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Goofs

When Cleve holds the gun to Dennis' neck and talks about only a few ounces of pressure needed, the revolver wasn't cocked and significant force would be needed to actually discharge the weapon.

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Quotes

David Madlock: [Lt. Meechum is admiring his collection] First editions, every one of them.

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Soundtracks

REVERIE
Written by Claude Debussy

User Reviews

An unlikely buddy film that works.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable B movie that came and went quickly from the big screen back in the late 80's. I happened to catch it then--and now own it in my movie collection.

Woods plays Cleve, a brilliant and perhaps psychotic former hit-man, who wants Dennis, a cop turned author (Brian Dennehy), to write his story. He also wants to expose his former employers. Cleve ensures Dennis that the book will be a "Best Seller" and begins taking Dennis on a lurid tour of his former hits.

Like most films, this doesn't transfer quite as well onto the small screen, but it is still well worth the viewing; (plus you get to hear James Woods warble a tune in French). Actually, Woods is way cool in this film, and delivers some of his most compelling work ever. Brian Dennehy pulls off the tough task of making the writer character equally interesting and compelling. An unlikely buddy film that has plenty of action, makes you care, and quite simply--works.