D.O.A. (1988)

Directors:

Annabel Jankel
Rocky Morton

Writers:

Charles Edward Pogue (story) and
Russell Rouse (story) ...

Release Date:

18 March 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Someone poisoned Dexter Cornell. He's got to find out who. He's got to find out why. He's got to find out now. In 24 hours, he'll be Dead On Arrival.

Plot:

Dexter Cornell, an English Professor becomes embroiled in a series of murders involving people around him...

Plot Keywords:

English Professor | Professor | Murder | Austin Texas | Remake

Cast

Dennis Quaid	...	Dexter Cornell
Meg Ryan	...	Sydney Fuller
Charlotte Rampling	...	Mrs. Fitzwaring
Daniel Stern	...	Hal Petersham
Jane Kaczmarek	...	Gail Cornell
Christopher Neame	...	Bernard
Robin Johnson	...	Cookie Fitzwaring
Robert Knepper	...	Nicholas Lang (as Rob Knepper)
Jay Patterson	...	Graham Corey
Brion James	...	Detective Ulmer
Jack Kehoe	...	Detective Brockton
Elizabeth Arlen	...	Elaine Wells
Karen Radcliffe	...	Jane Corey
William Forward	...	Chief Resident
Lee Gideon	...	Mr. Fitzwaring

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 | Portugal:M/16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Bigelow Productions

Trivia:

Rock group Timbuk 3 makes a brief appearance in the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: Dexter suddenly gains glasses when he first asks Sydney to join him for a date.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Dexter Cornell: Just somebody's homework, is all.

Movie Connections:

References Cleopatra (1963)

Soundtrack:

REBEL YELL

Fantastic Sleeper Film.

"D.O.A" is an involving and entertaining little picture from start to finish. Dennis Quaid is at his caustic best; and Quaid is sadly one of the most underused talents in Hollywood. His then beau Meg Ryan also appears with him, but as is usually the case, doesn't really make much of an impact.

The film is stylishly directed throughout, drawing on a number of influences to capture its 'seamy' feel. Would you credit that it's actually directed by two people? The answer is no. The whole thing is superbly slick, from its innovative camerawork to its unabashed use of black and white photography. All these elements help to keep proceedings fresh.

Really the greatest thrill here is to be had with the dialogue, it's snappy yet intricate, doesn't waste a word and yet still manages to be entertaining. The screenplay for this is like a pocket work of art.

This went unnoticed by me for ages before I finally caught it late at night. If this is the first you've heard about it, don't leave it like I did! Catch it soon, it really is top-notch... !

If you're in the mood for a solid genre flick that manages to surprise at every turn, this really fits the bill.