Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) directed by Shane Black
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is one of those self important films that likes to remind the audience how cool and clever it is. Fortunately for the film, it really is that cool thanks to its sharp and witty screenplay, though not nearly as clever as it thinks itself to be no thanks to a plot that is almost as confusing as The Big Sleep. But like The Big Sleep and other hard boiled detective stories, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang isn't so much about the plot as it is about watching cool guys do cool things.
The story is narrated by Harry Lockhart, a petty thief that gets caught up in a Hollywood story of detective work, dead bodies, scandal and bad guys with guns. He is assisted by private detective Gay Perry who rivals Omar Little in the awesome gay tough guy category. The third wheel is Harmony Lane, Harry's obligatory love interest who finds herself caught in the middle. This is all I can really say of the plot because I couldn't even describe it to you if I wanted to, but like I said, none of that matters anyways. You simply watch the film to watch Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer be awesome and they are.
The highlight of the film is the screenplay which is full of funny little nuggets. "Look up idiot in the dictionary. You know what you'll find?" "A picture of me?" "No the definition of the word idiot, which you f*cking are!" This is the type of crass sarcastic humor that has populated films in recent years that can come off completely wrong (Kevin Smith) or be totally awesome (Quentin Tarantino). It is awesome here because the lines are delivered by awesome dudes like a gay Val Kilmer and the always cool Robert Downey and fits well with the overall feel of the story. It is like one of those classic Raymond Candler hard boiled stories updated for modern times.
I don't think I can say it enough times, but Val Kilmer kicks ass in this movie. I'll be your huckleberry.
Grade: A-
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is one of those self important films that likes to remind the audience how cool and clever it is. Fortunately for the film, it really is that cool thanks to its sharp and witty screenplay, though not nearly as clever as it thinks itself to be no thanks to a plot that is almost as confusing as The Big Sleep. But like The Big Sleep and other hard boiled detective stories, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang isn't so much about the plot as it is about watching cool guys do cool things.
The story is narrated by Harry Lockhart, a petty thief that gets caught up in a Hollywood story of detective work, dead bodies, scandal and bad guys with guns. He is assisted by private detective Gay Perry who rivals Omar Little in the awesome gay tough guy category. The third wheel is Harmony Lane, Harry's obligatory love interest who finds herself caught in the middle. This is all I can really say of the plot because I couldn't even describe it to you if I wanted to, but like I said, none of that matters anyways. You simply watch the film to watch Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer be awesome and they are.
The highlight of the film is the screenplay which is full of funny little nuggets. "Look up idiot in the dictionary. You know what you'll find?" "A picture of me?" "No the definition of the word idiot, which you f*cking are!" This is the type of crass sarcastic humor that has populated films in recent years that can come off completely wrong (Kevin Smith) or be totally awesome (Quentin Tarantino). It is awesome here because the lines are delivered by awesome dudes like a gay Val Kilmer and the always cool Robert Downey and fits well with the overall feel of the story. It is like one of those classic Raymond Candler hard boiled stories updated for modern times.
I don't think I can say it enough times, but Val Kilmer kicks ass in this movie. I'll be your huckleberry.
Grade: A-
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