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Current Issue: Artvoice v7n47, week of Thursday November 20 » back issues

Film Review

Twice Told Tales: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Derailed

Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

A classicist will tell you that there are only a handful of stories, and that every new tale is merely a variant of one of those. Even if your criteria aren’t quite so stringent, though, it’s hard to dispute that there are certain stories that get reused over and over again. What matters is the panache each new teller brings to them.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang at first seems like a parody of Los Angeles detective stories. That’s certainly what you would expect from the title, which in the future is going to make the DVD hard to find at the likes of Amazon.com: a search is likely to find you a volume of Pauline Kael’s film reviews, Mario Bava’s Kill Baby Kill, the Italian psychedelic classic Kiss Me Kill Me, Roger Corman’s Kiss Me a Killer, Jesus Franco’s Kiss Me Killer or Kiss and Kill, Andy Milligan’s Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me (inspiration for the Cure album of the same title)… (Ed. note: this is all we saw fit to include from a long list that indicates that our reviewer spends too much time researching when he should be writing.)

Our hero is Harry (Robert Downey Jr.), a petty New York thief who is flown to Los Angeles to audition for a movie role as part of a chain of events that are too preposterous to recount. To get background information for his character, he is assigned to hang around with hard-boiled private eye Perry van Shrike (Val Kilmer), nicknamed “Gay Perry” for reasons other than the reference to France’s biggest city.

Harry narrates the story with a pronounced desire to deflating the clichés of the genre, freezing or rewinding the film when he gets ahead of himself and generally poking fun at the script’s endless Raymond Chandlerisms (though it is left to us to recognize that the chapter titles are taken from Chandler novels).

We soon realize that Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is not so much parodying the detective genre clichés as replaying them with a genial frosting of mockery. I would suspect that the director might even be mocking the script he was working from were they not both the work of Shane Black, making his debut as a director after two decades as one of Hollywood’s best-paid writers, beginning with the Lethal Weapon movies. Black more openly parodied this kind of stuff in The Last Boy Scout and The Long Kiss Goodnight, movies I’m willing to bet you can barely recall even if you’ve seen them.

The mystery that Harry and Perry investigate is either ridiculously complicated (a la the 1946 Howard Hawks Chandler adaptation The Big Sleep, in which even the writers admitted that they didn’t know who was responsible for one of the murders) or so indifferently laid out that it merely seems complicated. The latter is quite possible: whatever Black’s intentions going in, his film is wholly hijacked by the actors, a crime to which he seems to have acquiesced. The dialogue flies with a speed (not to mention quantity) that hasn’t been heard since the 1930s; I don’t know how many choice lines I missed under the laughter, but it would be worth seeing the film again for them.

Eschewing gay stereotypes, Kilmer, who started out as a comic actor before making the Keanu Reeves mistake of Going Serious, is a fine foil for Downey, whose readings are so endlessly novel that one suspects he gave the film’s editors myriad choices to work with. They’re matched by Michelle Monaghan, who as the aspiring actress on the wrong side of the hill deftly avoids the usual clichés of detective story heroines. (Credit Black at the very least for not writing her as a femme fatale.) That Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is smart fun is proved by the fact that Hollywood seems to have no faith in it: it’s playing locally at only one venue, a somewhat out of the way one at that. It’s worth the gas.

***

Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen in Derailed

“The author intrigues the reader by twisting the narrative so you never know what to expect,” says a character at the beginning of Derailed, the first film from former Miramax honchos Bob and Harvey Weinstein’s new company. He’s supposed to be writing a book report, but he’s rather obviously announcing the intentions of this film. Unfortunately, he’s only half right: I pretty much knew what to expect at every twist of the story in this joylessly regurgitated tale of passion and revenge.

Charles Schine (Clive Owen) is an overworked Chicago advertising director, stuck in his job because he and his wife need the money for their ailing daughter’s rising medical costs. Marital infidelity is against his nature, but he is tempted by Lucinda Harris (Jennifer Aniston), another married commuter he meets on the morning train.

Their decision to indulge in a little slap and tickle goes wrong when their hotel room is invaded by a sadistic thug who beats Charles unconscious and rapes Lucinda. Worse, he takes advantage of the fact that neither of them will go to the police to blackmail Charles, demanding more and more money out of the savings he has put aside for his daughter’s medical fund.

Derailed is a secondhand story that wants you to think it’s inventing fresh twists. I won’t give away the story’s major surprise, other than to note that I saw it coming a mile away (and I’m not usually too swift about such things). For this story to have had any impact, it should have moved the revelation to no more than the midway part of the film rather than near the end.

Owen is fine as a middle-class guy pushed to the breaking point, while French star Vincent Cassel is suitably vile as the villain of the piece. (He even has a Satanic little beard, just in case you were thinking of giving him the benefit of the doubt.) The weak link is Aniston, implausibly cast as a femme fatale who could lure a man away from his wife and family. Those fans the actress may retain after enough tabloid publicity in the past year to make Michael Jackson seem like J. D. Salinger (just this morning I was attacked in the supermarket checkout lane by a magazine headline screaming “Brad and Jen Talk!”) should be warned that hers is really only a supporting part, albeit one inappropriately expanded to increase her screentime.

If Derailed is the kind of movie that the Weinsteins left Disney to make, it only offers further proof that Miramax’s success was due to smart acquisitions rather than production. Unlike Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, this is playing at a theater near you no matter where you are. Save your gas money.


Artvoice Blog Headlines

Who Goes Where When Hillary Goes to State?

posted November 19, 12:04 pm on Artvoice Daily

City Hall News has flow_chart that tracks who might replace who, from Hillary’s Senate seat on down (click to expand or follow the link—it’s an awkward shape):

It’s Robert Rich Sr. All High Stadium

posted November 14, 5:05 pm on Artvoice Daily

These new signs properly label the structure. We’ve been reading recent stories in the Buffalo News about sportswriter Tom Borrelli’s terrible fall last week at the old All High Stadium. He’s currently battling life-threatening injuries... (more)

CWM Fined for Violations

posted November 14, 2:41 pm on Artvoice Daily

This week Chemical Waste Management was fined $175,000 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for violating its permits and the state’s hazardous waste laws. I don’t have much to say about that, except it doesn’t seem to me like too much money... (more)

Musical Chairs

posted November 14, 12:51 pm on Artvoice Daily

The AP reports that Hillary Clinton met with Barack Obama in Chicago yesterday, adding fuel to speculation that she might be Obama’s choice for secretary of state. If that happens, it has long been rumored that Brian Higgins would be appointed to her Senate seat... (more)

Paint the Town

posted November 14, 11:06 am on Artvoice Daily

Late last night, at the tail end of one of the few weeks in the past year in which we did not publish anything snarky about anybody, someone threw two gallons of paint on our front doors. Seems a waste; we hadn’t even earned it. Nonetheless, we were cleaning up all morning... (more)

Old Editions Book Shop

posted November 13, 1:58 pm on Artvoice Daily

AV videographer Matt Quinn tours Old Editions, an often overlooked treasure at the corner of Oak and Huron Streets downtown: show enclosure (video/x-flv; 21.29 MB)

This Is Not Today’s News

posted November 12, 9:37 am on Artvoice Daily

But it would be nice if it were. Via the Data Stream, by way of Jon Winet.

This Just In…

posted November 11, 3:28 pm on Artvoice Daily

Always in the vanguard, researchers of the University at Buffalo’s Center of Human Capital have reached a bold conclusion, according to a statement disseminated this afternoon: Although no official determination has been made about whether New York State or the U... (more)

Silver Lining: Edwards Remains a Good Guy

posted November 11, 11:17 am on Artvoice Daily

Marshawn Lynch Amid the anguished finger-pointing, plaintive wailing and resigned head-shaking sweeping the region following the Buffalo Bills’ third straight defeat, Season Ticket would like to apportion a minute sliver of credit. Quarterback Trent Edwards, by most quantitative and qualitative standards, failed miserably at New England on Sunday (not coincidentally, this was also his third consecutive regressive outing)... (more)

Mazzariello’s Ristorante & Martini Bar

posted November 7, 4:30 pm on Chew on This

  Photo taken by Rose Mattrey From Antipasti to Primi to Secondi, Mazzariello’s (114 Bloomfield Ave, Lancaster, 206.0561) has conquered the map of Italian cooking. Your palate will be exposed to an array of spices, herbs, and ingredients indigenous to Northern & Southern Italy... (more)

Post Election Bits & Bytes

posted November 7, 12:02 am on Tech Voice

Election ‘08 is now in the history books - so I figured it’s time to take a look backward, and a look forward at some relevant headlines. Hacking Democracy First, we’ll take a look at one of the best kept secrets of the campaign season, from both sides, care of a Newsweek article published just today... (more)

BNMC Open Meeting Tonight

posted November 6, 1:19 pm on Artvoice Daily

Tonight at 6pm in the auditorium of the downtown library, everyone is invited to attend a public hearing on the Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus—North End Projects. Among the projects planned are a 300,000 square foot Medical Office Building to be owned and operated by Ciminelli Development Company, Inc... (more)

That Pigeon Won’t Fly

posted November 6, 10:05 am on Artvoice Daily

Steve Pigeon Here’s another example, this one two years old, of the way Steve Pigeon’s political committees are alleged to steer money to candidates illegally. On September 15, 2006, the Pigeon-controlled PAC Citizens for Fiscal Integrity paid “RUR Strategy Group” $9,000 in consulting fees, according to CFI’s campaign finance disclosure forms... (more)

SeaBar’s Social Calendar

posted November 5, 12:44 pm on Chew on This

SeaBar will host live jazz and sushi nights starting Friday, November 21st at 8 p.m. (5235 Main Street, Wmsvl, 204.5283). A Cave Springs Riesling Tasting Event will take place at SeaBar’s suburban location on Wednesday, November 9th at 7 p.m... (more)

Artvoice TV: Latest Additions » more on AVTV

Neslon Starr Band w/Jeff Miers

posted November 23, 08:05 am on channel Music

On Saturday night there was a double bill with Bread Gone Wry and Nelson Starr Band at Nietzsche's. Sitting in with Nelson Starr for a couple of tunes was former bandmate and Buffalo News music critic Jeff Miers, featured here.

Bread Gone Wry

posted November 23, 08:04 am on channel Music

We haven't seen Bread Gone Wry for quite some time but they haven't lost their charm. The happy crowd cheered on every song.

Dr. Riyaz Hassanali: The effect Smoking has on your Skin

posted November 21, 4:50 pm on channel Local Interest

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Riyaz Hassanali sat down with Buffalo actress and television host Lorraine O'Donnell for the first in our series of interviews with area medical experts. Today's subject is the effects of smoking on your skin and appearance. Dr. Hassanali, of Williamsville (626-1593) is a well respected cosmetic surgeon who works internationally, as well as locally. This is the first of six segments from Dr...

Twilight

posted November 19, 1:09 pm on channel Movie Trailers

Movie trailer for Twilight, in theaters November 21. Read M. Faust's review of the film here.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

posted November 19, 1:06 pm on channel Movie Trailers

Movie trailer for The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, in theaters now. Click here to read George Sax's review of the film.

Avi Takes Artvoice Shopping for the holidays @ Lexington food Co-op

posted November 19, 11:52 am on channel Food

I met up with Avi of Obviously Avi Catering to learn about classic ways to spruce up some great thanksgiving dishes and some more contemporary ideas for this years holiday season.. Also check out the Co-op this weekend Saturday the 22nd to sample some of the fresh turkeys that u can pick up for your family!

TRAIN DAY! @ the Buffalo Historical Society

posted November 17, 3:07 pm on channel Local Interest

I met with Peter Burakowski from the Buffalo Histroical Society to check out their fantastic train exhibit.. Now I have to be honest I was kinda embarrassed to tell Peter that I Hadn't been to the museum since I was about six years old... But the place looks great and has a lot going on for the holiday season. Check out this clip then head on down to the Buffalo Historical Society!

Mass Appeal: Elmwood Fashion Event

posted November 15, 10:19 pm on channel Events

On Friday night the Elmwood Village Association packed the Lafayette Presbyterian Church with a sold out "Mass Appeal: An Elmwood Fashion Event." The atmosphere was electric in the brightly lit church as models strutted down the catwalk to lively deejay beats.

Buffalo Contemporay Dance

posted November 15, 6:43 pm on channel Events

This weekend we stopped at Alt Theatre, 255 Great Arrow, to check Buffalo Contemporary Dance's 10th Anniversary performance. The little black box theatre in the Great Arrow Industrial Center is exceptionally intimate and provides a that up close experience you won't get at larger venues. Dancers and choreographers Amy Taravella and Leslie Wexler put together a lovely set of dance pieces with a variety of musical styles and an enthusiastic group of dancers...

Old Editions Book Shop

posted November 13, 11:42 am on channel Local Interest

I had a chance to check out the Old Editions Book Shop & Café at 74 East Huron Street, Buffalo.... WOW i was blown away at how any cool things they had on display there....Not just the thousands of books on everything from local authors to rare leather-bounds, but hundreds of maps, prints and other artwork. If you havent been down to the corner of Oak and Huron to check it out i suggest you do!

Off Stage: Conversations with Anthony Chase

posted November 12, 4:50 pm on channel Theater

This week, Artvoice and TAB present Part II of the interview with Road Less Traveled founder, Scott Behrand. This is the second installment of "Off Stage", a series of conversations with the Buffalo theatre community and AV Theatre Editor Anthony Chase.

Happy Go Lucky

posted November 12, 2:08 pm on channel Movie Trailers

Movie trailer for Happy Go Lucky, in theaters now. Read M. Faust's review of the film here.

Quantum of Solace

posted November 12, 2:01 pm on channel Movie Trailers

Movie trailer for Quantum of Solace, in theaters November 14th. Read George Sax's review of the film here.

Flash Party at Essex St.

posted November 9, 10:59 am on channel Events

The annual Flash Party-Griffis Sculpture Park fundraiser at the Essex St. art complex was the raucous gathering of music and art it's always been. With live music by the Ifs, plenty of art and free beer what else would you expect?

Lakeview Effect at Nietzsche's

posted November 8, 4:54 pm on channel Music

When Lakeview Effect crowded into the front bar at Nietzsche's with their keyboards, drums, two guitars, bass and percussion, there wasn't much room left. Nevertheless, people space to jam in and groove to the interesting and often unpredictable tunes. Some even found room to dance.



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