Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

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

Director:

Shane Black

Writers:

Brett Halliday (novel), Shane Black (screen story)

Stars:

Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan

5 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

A petty thief posing as an actor is brought to Los Angeles for an unlikely audition and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation along with his high school dream girl and a detective who's been training him for his upcoming role...

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Plot Keywords:

neo noir | actor | thief | kidnapping | nightclub | 

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Taglines:

A bad week in a tough town.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, violence and sexuality/nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first film produced by Public Media Works, Corbin Bernsen's production company.

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Goofs

The book that Harmony takes off the shelf at the party is entitled You Wouldn't Want to Live There by Joe Chester, a fictional detective novelist. When she opens the book to read it, the text at the top of the pages clearly states that the novel is Maureen Child's The Man Beneath the Uniform, a 2004 Silhouette romance novel.

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Quotes

Harry: [after shooting many men he drops the gun down on the street] There... All done... Finished.

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Crazy Credits

After the credits, the Warner Brothers logo appears to melt as if this part of the film was left in front of the bulb too long.

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Connections

Referenced in Best of the Worst: Bloody Birthday, Crazy Fat Ethel II, and Psycho from Texas (2013)

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Soundtracks

Blue Christmas
Written by Billy Hayes (as Bill Hayes) and Jay Johnson (as Jay W.Johnson)
Performed by Sheryl Crow
Courtesy of Special Olympics, Inc.

User Reviews

Way better than I expected. Hip and self-aware but tons of fun!

I didn't expect much from this at all, but it turned out pretty good. Think of a Raymond Chandler murder mystery, updated to a sort of modern and enormously... self-aware buddy film-noir. Yes, a buddy-movie, film-noir, murder mystery, crime-thriller, all rolled into one hip modern self-referential update, packed with amusing references to all the clichés of the genres depicted. Before you can even think about the next cliché in the film, it grabs it, makes a mockery of it and proceeds at break-neck pace.

Petty thief Harry Lockhardt (Downey) is a lovable loser who accidentally winds up in the movie business, auditioning for the part of a private detective. Val Kilmer plays the real private eye, Perry Shrike (half the fun is picking the right name!) who has to learn him the trades of the business, but soon they both wind up in a murder mystery with so many twists and turns (and bodies), it'll make your head spin.

Downey and Kilmer seem to have the time of their lives, but not to the viewer's expense. Perhaps a bit too clever for it's own good with so many "clever" plot turns, that I was lost in the end, but perhaps I'm not as clever as I wish to. And I must say, Michelle Monaghan! Wow! She really gave one sexy performance! It derails a bit in the end and goes so wildly over the top with shaggy-dog jokes, ridiculously stupid bad guys and buddy-clichés, it makes Austin Powers look like a straight-faced classic. But as a whole very entertaining, with snappy dialogue, clever writing, and enjoyable performances. Just lots of fun.

Camera Obscura --- 8/10

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. [Belgium] Warner Bros. [Canada]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 November 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

L.A.P.I.

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$180,660, 23 October 2005

Gross USA:

$4,243,756

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$15,785,148

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Silver Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1