Product Description

OscarÂ(r) nominees* Tom Berenger (Platoon) and Anne Archer (Fatal Attraction)team with an all-star cast, including Elizabeth Perkins (He Said, She Said), Ted Levine (Ali, Monk ), Ann Magnuson (Panic Room), Kate Capshaw (Love Affair) and songwriterNeil Young, in this giddy, quirky and wonderful-to-watch movie (Judith Crist) that delves into more than just the mysteries of love! Harry Dobbs (Berenger) takes his job as a private detective seriously. Hired by a mysterious seductress (Archer) to follow her boyfriend, Harry soon discovers thatthe man he's following is not so much the marrying kind as he is the murdering kind! And it'll takethe help of another sleuth (Perkins)hired to keep an eye on Harryto capture this dangerous lothario and steal Harry's heart in the process! *Berenger: Supporting Actor, Platoon (1986);Archer: Supporting Actress, Fatal Attraction (1987)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #56937 in DVD
• Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
• Released on: 2004-01-13
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
• Dubbed in: Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 97 minutes

Customer Reviews

Brilliant Effort by Alan Rudolph and Superb Cast
Alan Rudolph takes a mystery and turns it inside out, with the help of great acting. Tom Berenger as the crusty, savvy detective. Elizabeth Perkins as the hapless but lovestruck detective wannabe. Ann Archer at her radiant and amusing best. And Neil Young (yes, THAT Neil Young) in a delightful cameo role as a heavy who gets what he deserves. A small film it may be, but the script is excellent, the photography impressive, the familiar theme of mistaken identity is well played, so this is in many ways Rudolph's best film.

Alan Rudolph's Best Film
Those unfamiliar with director Alan Rudolph should not hesitate to buy this video. It's a carefully crafted mystery with a wry sense of humor, visually exciting, and well-scripted. Tom Berenger is at his best, well complemented by Elizabeth Perkins, Ann Archer (at her steamy best), and yes, a cameo by Neill Young (yes, that Neill Young) that is bound to please. This is a small film but one that aspires to greatness through its noir plot, crisp dialog, and excellent acting by all. The larger theme of identity seems, in a way, Hitchcockian, but the movie is not at all derivative. When it came out in the 1980s it received good reviews but went quickly to video, though it deserved wider recognition. Note: although not billed as a "family" flick, the absence of gratuitous violence et al is a welcomed relief. So when is the DVD coming out? It's about time. Until then, buy and enjoy the VHS tape.

Poking Fun At Film Noir
If you're a fan of film noir, you should like this 1990 takeoff of those 1940s films with Anne Archer as an exaggerated femme-fatale in distress and private detective Tom Berenger paid to spy on her husband.

It turns out to be a comedy, however, as Berenger tails the wrong guy but finds things interesting as they are. Then Berenger's girlfriend gets nervous and hires a female detective (Elizabeth Perkins) to spy on him, so everyone is watching everyone!

Although there isn't a lot of action, the film never drags and is a good combination of suspense, humor and drama/action. Also nice is the soundtrack, a "Midnight Run" sound with good blues guitar and trumpet plus a Leonard Cohen song to start the film. Good colors add to everything.

On the negative side, I didn't care for the ending regarding Archer, nor understand why she did what she did. Also, everyone in the film is a bit too sleazy. The other fault likes not in the movie but in the DVD which had a very weak transfer. Overall, fun for a couple of looks.