Hit Me (1996)

Sonny lives with his intellectually disabled older brother, and works as a bellhop at a second-rate hotel. This changes when Monique a beautiful, suicidal nut-case checks in. Sonny is offered a part in a heist that goes wrong.

Director:

Steven Shainberg

Writers:

Jim Thompson (based upon the novel "A Swell-Looking Babe" by), Denis Johnson (screenplay by)

Stars:

Elias Koteas, Laure Marsac, Jay Leggett

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Elias Koteas	...	Sonny Rose
Laure Marsac	...	Monique Roux
Jay Leggett	...	Leroy Rose
Bruce Ramsay	...	Del Towbridge
Kevin J. O'Connor	...	Cougar
Philip Baker Hall	...	Lenny Ish
J.C. Quinn	...	Fred Bascomb
Haing S. Ngor	...	Billy Tungpet
William H. Macy	...	Policeman
Jack Conley	...	Mr. Ish's Bodyguard
Arthur Senzy	...	Peter Stillwell
Tom Lillard	...	Patron

Storyline

Sonny lives with his intellectually disabled older brother, and works as a bellhop at a second-rate hotel. This changes when Monique a beautiful, suicidal nut-case checks in. Sonny is offered a part in a heist that goes wrong.

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Plot Keywords:

montreal quebec | desperation | reference to henry david thoreau | paris france | mentally challenged person | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and language, a scene of strong sexuality and some drug use

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was Laure Marsac's second American feature film following her American film debut in Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) two years earlier.

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Goofs

In the last scene, once the rain stops, the car's windshield goes from streaming wet to very dry in seconds.

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Quotes

Lenny Ish: What is the *worst* thing that you have ever done?
Sonny Rose: Me? Uh, uh... I don't really know.
Lenny Ish: That means you haven't done it yet.

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Connections

Referenced in Dinner for Five: Episode #2.13 (2003)

User Reviews

Bad acting

With the success of Secretary director Steven Shainberg's earlier film Hit Me nows comes out on DVD. Unfortunately Hit Me would have benefited from a more experienced director adapting the source material, Jim Thompson's novel A Swell Looking Babe. Thompson's work has been extremely difficult to film inasmuch as most of his writing relates to the inner thoughts and emotions of his characters, rather that simply plot and dialog. Director Shainberg and leading man Elias Koteas attempt to deal with this through an over the top display of physical acting. If facial contortions represent emotion then obviously even more facial contortions represents even more emotion. This is combined with leading lady Laure Marsac who is blank faced throughout the film (although this French actress might have had trouble in English). Jim Thompson's novels contain a strong element of black comedy and initially, based on these acting choices and the bright lighting not associated with noir films, I thought Shainberg was going for black comedy. Imagine my surprise, as the film progressed and I discovered that we were supposed to take this seriously. It completely fails to work. It is not dark enough to reflect Thompson's noir and not comedic enough to reflect Thompson's black comedy. These choices ultimately have to laid at the feet of director Shainberg. Of the lesser characters, William H. Macy, highlighted in the DVD advertising, has a single short scene as a cop questioning Koteas. Macy is amusing as he cites the last meals of various killers. Philip Baker Hall uses his strong presence to offset a poorly written character. Tragically this was Haing S. Ngor's last film before he was senselessly killed in a robbery. He has only a few lines, as a hotel clerk, and its sad to think that this is the last role for an Academy award winner (The Killing Fields). All in all, you would be more entertained buying Thompson's novel than buying this DVD.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 September 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Ice Cream Dimension

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,348, 4 October 1998

Gross USA:

$12,500

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,500

Company Credits

Production Co:

Slough Pond

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1