Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

Director:

Shane Black

Writers (WGA):

Brett Halliday (novel) (in part)
Shane Black (screen story)

Release Date:

14 September 2005 (France)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

SeX. MurdEr. MyStery. Welcome to the party.

Plot:

A murder mystery brings together a private eye, a struggling actress, and a thief masquerading as an actor.

Plot Keywords:

Film Making | Straight Gay Male Kiss | Elvis Impersonator | Teacher | Elvis

Awards:

4 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Robert Downey Jr.	...	Harry Lockhart
Val Kilmer	...	Gay Perry
Michelle Monaghan	...	Harmony Faith Lane
Corbin Bernsen	...	Harlan Dexter
Dash Mihok	...	Mr. Frying Pan
Larry Miller	...	Dabney Shaw
Rockmond Dunbar	...	Mr. Fire
Shannyn Sossamon	...	Pink Hair Girl
Angela Lindvall	...	Flicka
Indio Falconer Downey	...	Harry Age 9
Ariel Winter	...	Harmony Age 7
Duane Carnahan	...	Chainsaw Kid
Josh Richman	...	Richie
Martha Hackett	...	Pistol Woman
Nancy Fish	...	NY Casting Woman

Also Known As:

L.A.P.I. (USA) (working title)
You'll Never Die in This Town Again (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language, violence and sexuality/nudity.

Runtime:

103 min | USA:102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Canada:18+ (Ontario) | Sweden:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Canada:14A | South Korea:15 | Belgium:KT | Germany:12 | Greece:K-17 | Finland:K-15 | New Zealand:R16 | Singapore:M18 | Malaysia:18SG (DVD) | Philippines:R-13 | USA:R (certificate #41234) | Ireland:15A | Brazil:16 | Netherlands:16 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Argentina:16 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | UK:15 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Long Beach, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The film was given a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival.

Goofs:

When Harry discovers a small pistol in the glove compartment of Perry's Mercedes, Perry refers to it as a Derringer, and even specifies (by way of a joke) that it only carries two shots, as Derringers invariably do. However, it is clearly visible as a North American Arms mini-revolver.

Quotes:

Perry: You think that's funny huh? I'm going to break your nose now.
[nonchalantly pistol whips the guy in the nose]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Veronica Mars: Postgame Mortem (#3.13)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

BROKEN

Way better than I expected. Hip and self-aware but tons of fun!

I didn't expect much from this at all, but it turned out pretty good. Think of a Raymond Chandler murder mystery, updated to a sort of modern and enormously... self-aware buddy film-noir. Yes, a buddy-movie, film-noir, murder mystery, crime-thriller, all rolled into one hip modern self-referential update, packed with amusing references to all the clichés of the genres depicted. Before you can even think about the next cliché in the film, it grabs it, makes a mockery of it and proceeds at break-neck pace.

Petty thief Harry Lockhardt (Downey) is a lovable loser who accidentally winds up in the movie business, auditioning for the part of a private detective. Val Kilmer plays the real private eye, Perry Shrike (half the fun is picking the right name!) who has to learn him the trades of the business, but soon they both wind up in a murder mystery with so many twists and turns (and bodies), it'll make your head spin.

Downey and Kilmer seem to have the time of their lives, but not to the viewer's expense. Perhaps a bit too clever for it's own good with so many "clever" plot turns, that I was lost in the end, but perhaps I'm not as clever as I wish to. And I must say, Michelle Monaghan! Wow! She really gave one sexy performance! It derails a bit in the end and goes so wildly over the top with shaggy-dog jokes, ridiculously stupid bad guys and buddy-clichés, it makes Austin Powers look like a straight-faced classic. But as a whole very entertaining, with snappy dialogue, clever writing, and enjoyable performances. Just lots of fun.

Camera Obscura --- 8/10