Robert Downey, Jr., I Forgive You
Once upon a time, I smuggled fudgy brownies and a candy necklace into a dusty second-run theater for a viewing of the latest Robert Downey, Jr. film, a little something called Restoration. It was also the occasion my ex-boyfriend chose for me to meet his new girlfriend, a recovering anorexic. I had also just been dumped by a different ex, who was at that time dating... a recovering anorexic. Even so, there was something that brought all of us together in the theater that night: me, my ex, his waif, and two good friends of ours. That uniting force was a common loathing for Restoration, surely one of the rottenest pieces of tripe ever served up for consumption. How angry we all were at Robert Downey, Jr.! He was the reason we were there, the lure that had pulled us into an utter chum-bucket.
And now I've seen Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and all is forgiven.
Perhaps you know the story. Robert plays Harry Lockheart, fuck-up extraordinaire. A petty thief who can't even steal the right quasi-Robocop for his niece, Harry ends up in L.A.after literally falling into an audition and wowing the producers. Once there, he finds his long-lost hometown crush, Harmony Lane (Michelle Monaghan), an aspiring actress and, of course, emotional minefield. Add Val Kilmer as Gay Perry, a detective and film consultant, and you've got a private dick/buddy movie on top of everything else.
Now, I know what you're thinking. Hijinks ensue. And they do, oh they do. But you see, it's been a really long time since a mystery worth watching was made for the big screen. There are many films that explore the "L.A. is the twilight zone" theme, but how many of them do it with a touch of noir? I can't think of any since L.A. Confidential, which was a solid apple to this tangy, juice lime. A traditionally-written mystery has layers that fold in on themselves to create patterns, and the well-trained viewer knows that no detail is wasted. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang uses self-referential humor in such a way that this quaint device can be not just used, but used for laughs. Not since Scream has any genre film played to the audience like this. In addition, using Harry as our narrator makes the conspiracy between us that much more fun. It's as if we are watching the movie with him perched on the edge of the seat one row behind, nattering on and making us laugh so hard and so long we miss half the jokes.
Chock full of hilarious banter and lightning-quick visual jokes, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a showcase for comedic craft and tight timing. For long periods, I had that light-headed feeling you get when you've laughed until you're oxygen-deprived and your guts are busted. Life got you down? Do you find the word-a-day calendar seems stuck on "ennui?" Invite a couple of friends over, pop this one in, and open the wine. This movie is good medicine.
And now I've seen Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and all is forgiven.
Perhaps you know the story. Robert plays Harry Lockheart, fuck-up extraordinaire. A petty thief who can't even steal the right quasi-Robocop for his niece, Harry ends up in L.A.after literally falling into an audition and wowing the producers. Once there, he finds his long-lost hometown crush, Harmony Lane (Michelle Monaghan), an aspiring actress and, of course, emotional minefield. Add Val Kilmer as Gay Perry, a detective and film consultant, and you've got a private dick/buddy movie on top of everything else.
Now, I know what you're thinking. Hijinks ensue. And they do, oh they do. But you see, it's been a really long time since a mystery worth watching was made for the big screen. There are many films that explore the "L.A. is the twilight zone" theme, but how many of them do it with a touch of noir? I can't think of any since L.A. Confidential, which was a solid apple to this tangy, juice lime. A traditionally-written mystery has layers that fold in on themselves to create patterns, and the well-trained viewer knows that no detail is wasted. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang uses self-referential humor in such a way that this quaint device can be not just used, but used for laughs. Not since Scream has any genre film played to the audience like this. In addition, using Harry as our narrator makes the conspiracy between us that much more fun. It's as if we are watching the movie with him perched on the edge of the seat one row behind, nattering on and making us laugh so hard and so long we miss half the jokes.
Chock full of hilarious banter and lightning-quick visual jokes, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a showcase for comedic craft and tight timing. For long periods, I had that light-headed feeling you get when you've laughed until you're oxygen-deprived and your guts are busted. Life got you down? Do you find the word-a-day calendar seems stuck on "ennui?" Invite a couple of friends over, pop this one in, and open the wine. This movie is good medicine.