Directed By: James Foley Written By: Doug Jung Cinematography By: Juan Ruiz Amchia Editor: Stuart Levy
Cast: Ed Burns, Rachel Weisz, Dustin Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Brian Van Holt, Morris Chestnut, Louis Lombardi, Andy Garcia, Robert Forster, Robert Pine, Leland Orser, John Caroll Lynch, Luis Guzman, Donal Logue, Tony “Tiny” Lister, Franky G, Nicole Lenz
Jake Vig is a consummate grifter about to pull his biggest con yet, one set to avenge his friend’s murder. But his last scam backfired, leaving him indebted to a mob boss and his enforcer.
I have never seen a film try so hard to be a modern version of THE STING.
The film offers likable quirky thieves and a handsome protagonist. Who is in over his head? An untrustworthy femme fatale and a big-name legendary actor playing the villain raise the stakes of the endeavor and make it seem like a challenge to the other actors to impress him or even hold the screen with him.
Then you get the requisite double crosses. Everyone is who they seem or say they are. I really wish I could have disliked this film. It ends up winning you over as long as you don’t look too deep. As it is a film that openly challenges you and wants the audience to overthink. So that while you are doing that it is sneaking stuff right by you.
Ed Burns is the lead con man. I will admit that when it usually comes to him in acting performances. He tries to play more laid-back characters but there is a certain arrogance in his performance that is perfect for the character he is playing here. Here he has his qualities actually work for him.
It helps that this film is stocked to help support him with so many character actors. Who he actually holds his own with. Under those conditions, you have to bring you a game and pray that some of their talent and charisma Rub off.
It’s hard to talk about this film and really have too much to say, when most of the enjoyment comes from watching these twists and turns in action.
It’s actually quite a charming film that is perfect to watch with an audience. Though you will probably only need to see it once. Since after that you know what it is all about. And not as much fun.
Watching it feels like you are playing a game. Once you watch it will All have the same outcome.
The film tries to be gritty but it comes off more as fascinating. As the film is much better than you would expect and is stylish to a degree, but feels like it is a victim of itself when it comes to the intelligence of the script. It thinks it’s smarter than it actually is. Even includes the will they or won’t they sexual tension between the con man leader and the new sexy recruit.
Watching this at the time it seemed part of a bunch of movies that were trying to be about con games or at least trying to fool the audience. That also seemed more in being self-promoting. This is worth a shot but more as entertainment than anything else.
Written & Directed By: Elaine May Cinematography: Vittorio Storaro Editor: Richard P. Girincione, Stephen A. Rotter & William Reynolds
Cast: Warren Beatty, Dustin Hoffman, Isabelle Adjani, Charles Grodin, Jack Weston, Tess Harper, Carol Kane, David Marguiles, Aharon Ipale, Herb Gardner, Fred Melamed, Matt Frewer, Alex Hyde White
Two terrible lounge singers get booked to play a gig in a Moroccan hotel but somehow become pawns in an international power play between the C.I.A., the Emir of Ishtar, and the rebels trying to overthrow his regime.
The history of this film is infamous. From all of Its problems behind the scenes and on the screen. That it was considered a failure. So much so that I am so shocked that no one has written a book about it.
This comes off as a major failure but an interesting one. Not a car crash Per se
As the film seeks to mash a bunch of genres and types together. It tries to be a comedy where you can hear the jokes in the writing but the delivery is stiff and kind of shows the efforts of the actors who are more famous for drama overall really trying. Yet failing
It also is a kind of International road comedy. That is a kind of Bing Crosby and Bob Hope throwback. That then seems to become a loose espionage film.
The first 26 minutes could have been cut shorter as they introduce the characters and feels like an indulgence for the film to set up the characters and their dilemmas. That feels more like a character comedy which writer-director Elaine May is more famous for.
After those initial scenes once we make it to Morocco where the film’s actual plot starts. That is when the film feels like at least it has started to move. Even as the film feels longer than it actually is
As we can see the ideas on Display but they Don’t seem to connect. so that instead of seeing a production this almost comes off as cold reading or rehearsal
This film could have been a forgettable 80’s comedy. The only problem is that with the big name talent on display it magnifies everything and makes the film more interesting in studying than actually looking for entertainment.
At times It’s painful and at other times it is amusing. As this film seems like it wants to rest on the laurels of Its star’s star power to carry it. As that sometimes works in bad comedies that stay passable on the likeability of the star
It might have even been salvageable or understandable if it starred two actors more known for comedy. Though with two stars who are known for perfectionism and trying an out-and-out comedy rather than any drama. Was a recipe for disaster.
Especially when you have the stars kind of switch roles from the type of roles they usually play with Dustin Hoffman mroe being the ladies man and Warren Beatty the romantic dumb one who is mroe nerdy
One can only imagine writer/director Elaine May, more known for long takes, shooting a lot of footage, and putting films together in editing. Directing two actors known for being particular and revising scripts to their expectations and have been known to take over productions to fit their standards overall. Was quite the match
The film seems like there might have been some Improv at times though also scripted more when it comes to the plot threads. This would also explain why some scenes feel monotonous In Length and dialogue. Like skits, they aren’t working
It might have been funnier if the characters’ manipulation and distrust of one another we played up more. As we know the characters are dumb and in over their heads already. Though it becomes a buddy comedy that started off in that way
Even though they distrust one another to a degree eventually it is so fast. That separation is never felt. As usually in buddy comedies, friction between the leads is part of the entertainment and watching them come back together only resonates with the depth of their friendship and loyalty.
This for s across as an example of the excess in the 1980s and how it affected Even those you counted on for quality eventual icons well into their careers to know better and why they might have become even more particular
It seems like a typical studio comedy where the package was more important than the actual ingredients, story, or material. Not a particularly high concept In plot but talent definitely
Unfortunately, it is also so far the last film Elaine May directed, and it’s a shame as most of her movies, even this are great in their own way, classics. This one more so for being an example or made an example of whereas the others were excellent quality. So that she showed a master of writing-directing in the comedy A NEW LEAF and drama MICKEY AND NICKY
As Isabelle Adjabi and Charles Grodin come off more professional And one note. Though Adjani seems like she’d rather be anywhere else. Their roles and playing up what they know or are expected of them. As they come off more as Hollywood in this film and like they belong in the part of the film they are in. Whereas Hoffman and Beatty belong in the movie that is the first act but then become entangled in the rest where they stick out which seems like they were part of the plan. Though the mixture doesn’t work as you might want to see, the first act continued in one movie, and the later film is more plausible with different actors and characters coming Into it
This just feels like a movie more for film fans or Hollywood and Tinseltown historians rather than the. Maybe a general audience unless fan completists if the main actors. It’s not as horrible. As it has been labeled. Trust me It’s not good, but it is fun in so bad it’s Good. It’s just not that engaging as it constantly feels like a production
Even if the actors played the right roles it would not save the film but while it looks initially done to be funnier and a stretch for both of them. It ends up coming Off weak and would have fixed one of Its Many problems
Mismatched as they play songwriters but they can’t sing well their characters nor the actors appear and while some of the songs are catchy in the writing scenes the performance is horrible. That originally there was going to be a soundtrack but that was scraped after the film bombed
If the Morocco scenes weren’t so heavy and most of the film. The film could have just been a misfire. As if the characters stayed in New York as we marvel at their failures. Through the depth of their friendship. You can Understand what attracts the stars. As this was a bit of a comeback for each of them
Or was supposed to be. As both had been away from the big screen for five years and their previous films before this were considered classics these days
Like dumb and dumber in the dessert international. Silly and fun and plays stupid but smarter than it comes across. As it is an epic failure that has so many mishandling yet good intentions and ideas. That is more purely comedic but some spoofs and like the decade excessive in many ways
Then it all ends abruptly though it feels like it goes a long way just to get to the joke that is the ending while clearly showing Its inspiration so just like the Bing Crosby Bob hope films you have two iconic popular stars all heir for drama starring in a road to type comedy an expensive one that is all over the place
Which makes the film a Hollywood artifact that matches the likes of Brian de Palma’s bonfire of the vanities with the film’s problems in the making, post-production, and marketing. With songs co-written by Paul Williams which might be why I when a weakness for them
Cut To The Chase 