videorama-759-859391
Mr Dahl is a filmmaker who makes movies, I really like. He's made his score of road movies, and I love the backdrops in his film. In what is his first Indie cinematic film, Kill Me Again, prefore, I get the feeling he's outdone himself, but not for the better. True, he has pulled off something slick, but there are too many similarities and coincidences. Penniless drifter Cage arrives in Red Rock, a real nice locale, buzzing with activity (joke) I wouldn't mind visiting, where he's mistaken for a hit-man, by bar owner and sheriff (Walsh). Of course, if your a begging state of affairs, you naturally take the money, as Cage so conveniently does, assuming the role. But obviously from these scenarios, what ensues isn't good, as stolen money is dead money. He's being payed to kill Walsh's beautiful wife (Laura Flynn Boyle) but he of course, has other ideas, and if you haven't seen it, you have a good idea of where this well and tight structured plot to film, heads, with a couple of twists. I couldn't really swallow how Walsh could just make this stranger out as the one, he's paid to kill his wife. Is his bar that empty during week days, or does Cage have the hit-man look? Every performance, big or small, impresses, notably Boyle and Hopper as the real larger than life, hit-man, lapping it up as another morbid character, where again, with Walsh, we realize what a talented and important actor we lost. I also liked Timothy Carhart's performance a lot as the tall suss deputy. He was the badarse in Beverly Hills Cop 3. His tooth pick chewing partner too, is done solid by Dan Shor (Black Moon Rising). Of course, Hopper steals every scene. Being honest, the least best performance was Cage, as I've seen better from him. He's still quite good here. Still like other Dahl films, it's entertaining from start to finish, but I could run off a string of better films he's made. I just feel it didn't carry enough clout.
chris
This is a movie that had slipped under my radar until this evening. Watched it pretty late at night and would recommend that as the best time to take it in. It is far fetched and a little cringe worthy in rare moments,but overall it keeps you gripped for the entirety of the movie. Acting all round is good. Dennis Hopper is fantastic - worth watching the entire movie just to see him in the car scene. Only a true maniac could act like that much of a maniac. J T Walsh was also believably sinister. I just found it enjoyable to watch overall - mostly for the little things - moments of acting brilliance and interesting shots and settings. It's kind of hard to describe but even for such a fast paced plot with so many twists and turns - the overall feel of the movie had a comforting quality about it and was vaguely reminiscent of Breakdown. Definitely worth a watch.
Neil Welch
There are certain people who scream out to be typecast. Looing for a small-town bigwig with an air of corruption and a nasty streak? How about the late (and much lamented) JT Walsh? How about a contract killer with superficial charm and a centre of pure viciousness? Has to be the late (and even more lamented) Dennis Hopper. Penniless drifter with a hard luck story? Nicolas Cage, who else? Only femme fatale wife of small-town bigwig doesn't immediately scream Lara Flynn Boyle, but she does a perfectly adequate job in the role.Red Rock West is a noir movie, updated for modern audiences. The plot involves murder plots, opportunism, corruption, double-dealing, and assorted twists and turns, and is splendid fun. The performances are all dark, and all the principals get their teeth into the piece.Highly recommended, if you're in the mood for some dark fun.
thekyles99
Like i said in previous reviews, recently i have been going through Nic Cage's IMDb list of projects he has done to see if there was anything i hadn't seen that he's been in. And low and behold i found a bunch of em. So far out of three watched i liked 2 of em . 2-1 not a bad ratio so far. Just goes to show to show Nic Cage although one of the busiest actors is also careful of the scripts he chooses to work on. Red Rock West is another gem of his that must've slipped under my radar in 93. Great storyline however i found the ending a little on the cheesy side that being said it was a pretty good thriller. This time round Nic portrays Michael Williams a down and out Texan who resides in his car and tries to get jobs but fails to an injury he took while serving in the marines. Apon driving into a little town of red rock he enters the red rock tavern to see about a job and in a serious judgement error ends up taking a job that belonged to a professional hit-man (Dennis Hopper) needless to say all hell breaks loose and the moral of the story is number one money is never easy and number two...watch who's life you try to impersonate as the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Good casting featuring the late great Jt Walsh who was always a pleasure to watch work and a very underrated actor to say the least. Another great and recently passed Dennis Hopper portrays the hit-man that was originally intended for the hit but was a little later then mike at arriving to the bar. Dennis hopper in my books was awesome in portraying villains. Lara Flynn Boyle rounds off the cast with a less then believable performance as the sheriffs wife who the hit is to be delivered upon. Nic Cage's character in this spends the rest of the movie digging the hole he has made himself further and further. To get out is the question.
AD
