Goodbye Lover (1998)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Roland Joffé

Writers (WGA):

Ron Peer (story)
Ron Peer (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 April 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

No one's ever been so good at being so bad.

Plot:

Ben and Sandra are hot and provocative lovers, but Sandra is unfortunately married to Ben's younger brother Jake...

Plot Keywords:

Insurance Fraud | Syringe | Police Corruption | Sergeant | Cynicism

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Patricia Arquette	...	Sandra Dunmore
Dermot Mulroney	...	Jake Dunmore
Mary-Louise Parker	...	Peggy Blane
Ellen DeGeneres	...	Sgt. Rita Pompano
Ray McKinnon	...	Rollins
Alex Rocco	...	Det. Crowley
Don Johnson	...	Ben Dunmore
Andre Gregory	...	Rev. Finlayson
John Neville	...	Bradley
JoNell Kennedy	...	Evelyn (as Jo Nell Kennedy)
Akane Nelson	...	Receptionist
Kevin Cooney	...	Company Man #1
Will Stewart	...	Dennis
Nina Siemaszko	...	Newscaster
David Brisbin	...	Mr. Brodsky

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, language and violence.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Australia:MA | Philippines:R-18 | UK:15 | Canada:14A | France:U | Germany:16 (bw) | Spain:18 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | USA:R | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Regency Enterprises

Trivia:

Last cinema film of George Furth.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In the closing credits, Barry Newman's character is spelled "Lassetter," but in the video shown at the meeting near the beginning of the film, his name is spelled "Lassiter."

Quotes:

Peggy Blane: [to Sergeant Rita Pompano] I thought it was an accident. Why are you asking me all these weird questions?
Sergeant Rita Pompano: [to Rollins] Are my questions weird, Detective Rollins?
Rollins: [to Peggy] Rude, maybe, but not weird.

Movie Connections:

References Die Büchse der Pandora (1929)

Soundtrack:

I Have Confidence

Brilliant mix of noir and comedy!

"Goodbye Lover" is the remedy for a person in need of sizzling, film noir mystery or laugh-out-loud comedy. Patricia Arquette and Ellen DeGeneres carry the film and both seem right at place as their characters. Arquette plays Sandra Dunmore, Don Johnson is Ben, her husband's brother. Dermot Mulroney is Jake Dunmore, Sandra's husband. A plan is being woven and you don't always know by who, as insurance money is what everyone wants. I won't give anything away, even though twists aren't the only thing this film has going for it. Like I said, I spent half the time laughing hysterically. Ellen DeGeneres is Rita Pompano, a lazy detective who hates the human race and is only in the force because "Every once in a while I get to shoot somebody." The film's script is smooth and well written, full of the right dose of thrills and laughs. Despite what many may say about this film, it is the perfect example of what film noir is all about. Not just mystery, not just comedy, but a little bit of both. A fantastic film.