Kiss of Death (1995/I)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Barbet Schroeder

Writers (WGA):

Eleazar Lipsky (story)
Ben Hecht (1947 screenplay) ...

Release Date:

21 April 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Little Junor Brown. He rules the streets. He owns the game. But he doesn't own all of the players.

Plot:

A reformed convict goes undercover with the help of an angry detective to ensnare a psychotic mobster.

Plot Keywords:

Strip Club | Queens New York City | Undercover Operation | New York City | District Attorney

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

David Caruso	...	Jimmy Kilmartin
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Calvin Hart
Nicolas Cage	...	Little Junior Brown
Helen Hunt	...	Bev Kilmartin
Kathryn Erbe	...	Rosie Kilmartin
Stanley Tucci	...	Frank Zioli
Michael Rapaport	...	Ronnie Gannon
Ving Rhames	...	Omar
Philip Baker Hall	...	Big Junior Brown
Anthony Heald	...	Jack Gold
Angel David	...	J.J.
John Costelloe	...	Cleary
Lindsay J. Wrinn	...	Corinna as a Toddler
Megan L. Wrinn	...	Corinna as a Toddler
Katie Sagona	...	Corinna, 4 Years Old

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #33340) | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 (w) | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

David Caruso was paid $1 million for appearing in this film, which he made in the hiatus between his first and short-lived second season of "NYPD Blue" (1993).

Goofs:

Continuity: When we first see the Red Explorer - before Nicolas gives it to David - is has no license plate in the front. But when David drives it home it DOES have a license plate in the front

Quotes:

Calvin Hart: [cuffing a sobbing Brown] Man, what the heck's wrong with you? Don't you know you can't go hitting the police around?

Movie Connections:

Remake of Kiss of Death (1947)

Soundtrack:

La Copa Rota

Good, underrated crime drama

A mostly gripping crime drama with a good script and a great cast. This is David Caruso's best movie by far as a leading man, the reason he left NYPD Blue, and it portended a good career to follow. Well, his movie career tanked but this is still a good character study and underrated neo noir entry. Cage is all breathy snarl and wonderful menace in the flashy sociopath role originated by Richard Widmark. Hard to imagine assembling a backup cast with Ving Rhames, Helen Hunt, Stanley Tucci, Michael Rapaport and Samuel L. Jackson these days on this budget, and they all put in nice turns.

Probably worth a shot if you are a fan of modern noir and gritty crime dramas, though it does peter out a bit with the too-convenient denouement. Cut from the same tough cloth as other sleeper modern noir movies like DEEP COVER and ROMEO IS BLEEDING.

"You F#&$ with the bull, you get the horns." 7.5 / 10 Would rate higher if not for the too-cute ending.