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:

Comedy | Crime | 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:

Detective | Gay | Actor | Thief | Murder

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 Lockhart - Age 9
Ariel Winter	...	Harmony Faith Lane - Age 7
Duane Carnahan	...	Chainsaw Kid
Josh Richman	...	Richie
Martha Hackett	...	Pistol Woman
Nancy Fish	...	N.Y. 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:

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

Filming Locations:

Long Beach, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The phrase "kiss kiss, bang bang" appeared in the 1960s as an overseas slang for spy movies, especially James Bond movies. It was popular in Europe and Japan. It first appeared as a film title for a 1966 spy comedy made in Spain with Italian financing. It was also the title of famed critic Pauline Kael's second published collection of reviews. Kael wrote that she chose the words as her title because they are "perhaps the briefest statement imaginable of the basic appeal of movies."

Goofs:

Continuity: The license plate of a car being pursued changes from 3DW0489 in one shot to 3MX0149 in the next. It wouldn't be so easily notable, but the characters are talking about writing it down.

Quotes:

Harry: This is every shade of wrong.

Movie Connections:

References Lord of the Cockrings (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

FRIED NECK BONES AND SOME HOME FRIES

Calling Johnny Gossamer to action

The immensely likable novel "Bodies are where you find them", written by Brett Halliday, has been adapted for the screen by Shane Black and the result is one of the funniest movies playing around. "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" boasts an amazing dialog with some of the wittiest lines of any film in recent memory.

The film pays a tremendous bonus to fans of the genre, which combines a detective story technique with some amusement and irony thrown in. The result is a fun time at the movies. Mr. Halliday pays tribute to those forgotten cheap pulp fiction novels that were so popular at one time in this country.

The director has to be congratulated for combining the talents of two actors that pay off in unexpected ways. Robert Downey Jr., one of the best film actors, is paired in this movie with Val Kilmer, who tends to play heavy roles, but has never been seen as he is shown in the movie. Both these men compliment one another in ways we didn't expect. The chemistry between them seems to indicate these two actors had a lot of fun while making the film, as it shows in the way they play against one another.

Lovely Michelle Monaghan is seen as Harmony, a beautiful young hopeful working her way up in Hollywood. Also in the cast Corbin Bernsen, who is seen as Harlan Dexter. Larry Miller has a few brief moments in the picture.

"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" is a witty and intelligent film. Thanks to its director, Shane Black, it's a film to be treasured.