The Hollywood Sign

It is a quite good movie. Although the images look old and battered for a 2001 movie the acting is fairly good. Unfortunately it can't equal the great Leon de Winter book, upon which the movie is based. Some very important elements from the book are missing in the film. Another thing is the cheap bunch of actors, there are some good ones, but a few parts could've had better actors. If they'd used better actors the movie could have been way more fun. All in all, it's a nice movie, it doesn't bore me but I had hoped for a way better movie. The great book deserves a better movie with better cast! But if you have read the book it is worth viewing, it's got some funny details and some of the acting is really nice.

If you can get past the far-fetched plot (full of weird schemes and big coincidences) this can be pretty funny movie. The three main actors (Tom Berenger, Burt Reynolds and Rod Steiger) are all pretty good. OK, so they overact sometimes, so the plot is flawed and the pace sometimes uneven--but I still found myself laughing throughout the film.

My mom was with me when I saw this film and we both got a huge kick out of the last portion of the movie--where these three bumbling has-been actors are trying to con a bunch of gangsters into believing that they (the actors) are cops. Each actor almost blows it, improvises, over-acts, acts badly, and it's all pretty hilarious.

In my opinion this film is worth seeing for the fun scenes between the three main stars. I think they played off each other well. I especially liked Rod Steiger (in one of his last roles) but I enjoyed the performances of all three.

I recommend this film if you are willing to look past the flaws, and allow yourself to be amused by the fun stuff. There are definitely laughs to be had in this film.

"The Hollywood Sign" starts with some sharp comedy, but quickly deteriorates. Rod Steiger and Burt Reynolds hold things together for a short time, while Tom Beringer comes across as if he had a bad case of constipation. I had expectations that this was a black comedy, but what attempts were made at dark humor fall flat, mostly because of terrible timing. The script is very muddled, and the exact nature of the crime caper never clear. What is crystal clear is that "The Hollywood Sign" wastes good performances from Burt Reynolds and Rod Steiger. Because of the weak script, boredom eventually evolves into disinterest. A real sleeper. ZZZZZZ - MERK

Three decadent actors find a corpse close to the Hollywood sign. After some investigation, they realize that the guy was an employee of the financial department who had stolen a casino with four other thieves. They decide to steal the money from the gang, acting like they were real cops. The story has a surprising end. The first three quarters of this movie is surprisingly good. Tom Berenger, Burt Reynolds and Rod Steiger perform three aged actors, forgotten by the studios, trying to survive in Hollywood. There are great scenes, like the death of Robbie Kant (Kay E. Kuter) while crossing the street or when Kage Mulligan (Burt Reynolds) cries watching a western movie he made when he was a young actor. There are many elements of cult-movie along the story, through the comments of the veterans actors. However, the conclusion of the plot is very disappointing. Anyway, 'The Hollywood Sign' is a good entertainment. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): 'Uma Grande Jogada' ('A Great Move')

"The Hollywood Sign" is all about a trio of washed up, has-been movie actors (Berenger, Reynolds, Steiger) who decide to turn fiction into reality by using a movie screenplay as the blueprint for a Vegas casino ripoff (sorta). Everyone in this unfortunate flick seems to be waiting for the other cue to drop. Performances are hickory; the screenplay is clumsy; timing is waaay off; and God knows where the director was during the filming. There is one poignant moment when Reynolds watches himself in an old western and a few funny moments where the trio, playing like detectives, interview some hoods. Otherwise the film is a waste of talent and a waste of time. (D)