IMDb रेटिंग
6.4/10
6.8 हज़ार
आपकी रेटिंग
अपनी भाषा में प्लॉट जोड़ेंAn ex-hit man wants a police detective/novelist to write his biography.An ex-hit man wants a police detective/novelist to write his biography.An ex-hit man wants a police detective/novelist to write his biography.
- पुरस्कार
- 2 कुल नामांकन
Charles Tyner
- Cleve's Father
- (as Harold Tyner)
फ़ीचर्ड समीक्षाएं
James Woods plays a hit man named Cleve, who contacts a successful true crime author & former cop Dennis Meechum(played by Brian Dennehy) who got his start after he was the sole survivor of a deadly holdup at the police evidence department years earlier. Cleve wants Dennis to write his life story, which he feels is most interesting, and as a way to get back at his former employer, a powerful corporation he helped build. Meechum is intrigued but also skeptical, so Cleve takes him on a tour of his past, both with his parents and also his "assignments". Dennis learns that Cleve has a deeper connection to him than he realizes, and that some powerful forces don't want this proposed book published...
Little-seen thriller is quite well done, with fine acting by the leads, and efficient direction and story. Almost goes wrong toward the end with the expected violent finale, but is still exciting enough to compensate, with the well-plotted story unfolding most effectively.
Worth catching on DVD.
Little-seen thriller is quite well done, with fine acting by the leads, and efficient direction and story. Almost goes wrong toward the end with the expected violent finale, but is still exciting enough to compensate, with the well-plotted story unfolding most effectively.
Worth catching on DVD.
Brief Synopsis - A detective who wrote a best selling novel about a crime he helped foil is approached by a man who wants to be the focus of his next book since he claims to be a hitman who has killed hundreds for his boss.
My Take on it - This is yet another film that I recall really enjoying as a kid when I saw it numerous times on cable.
Unfortunately, it doesn't stand up so well nearly 30 years later.
The premise is actually a very good one, but the performances and script feel quite subdued.
I would have expected a story with this kind of premise to be more thrilling and exciting to watch, but instead it moves along at a pretty slow pace.
I have always been a fan of both Brian Dennehy and James Woods, but neither does enough here to grab our attention.
The premise of a writer living out the story of his next book isn't a new one and there are numerous films that have done this much better than they have managed to do here.
There are some scenes that feel quite 1980's which must have made it better back then,but couldn't carry over to now.
It was funny to see Alisson Balson who played Nancy Oleson from Little House on the Prairie featured here as Dennehey's daughter.
My Take on it - This is yet another film that I recall really enjoying as a kid when I saw it numerous times on cable.
Unfortunately, it doesn't stand up so well nearly 30 years later.
The premise is actually a very good one, but the performances and script feel quite subdued.
I would have expected a story with this kind of premise to be more thrilling and exciting to watch, but instead it moves along at a pretty slow pace.
I have always been a fan of both Brian Dennehy and James Woods, but neither does enough here to grab our attention.
The premise of a writer living out the story of his next book isn't a new one and there are numerous films that have done this much better than they have managed to do here.
There are some scenes that feel quite 1980's which must have made it better back then,but couldn't carry over to now.
It was funny to see Alisson Balson who played Nancy Oleson from Little House on the Prairie featured here as Dennehey's daughter.
"Best Seller" is essentially a two character movie. On one hand there is Brian Dennehy as a veteran cop who also writes crime novels based on real events. On the other hand there is James Woods as a professional killer who has been spurned by his former employer (Paul Shenar). He seeks out Dennehy to try to convince him to write his story of how a now rich and powerful magnate rose to the top over the bodies of others.
The first part of the movie involves Woods trying to convince Dennehy that his story is on the level. The second part of the story covers Shenar's attempts to intimidate Woods and Dennehy and prevent the publication of Dennehy's book.
Woods and Dennehy play off of each other marvelously. Woods is cold and calculating as the hit man and Dennehy is torn between his sworn duty as a cop and his desire to get to the truth.
"Best Seller" is not for the faint of heart. There are scenes of graphic violence, which I feel are necessary within the context of the story. The film is worth a look if for nothing else than to watch two veteran performers at their best.
The first part of the movie involves Woods trying to convince Dennehy that his story is on the level. The second part of the story covers Shenar's attempts to intimidate Woods and Dennehy and prevent the publication of Dennehy's book.
Woods and Dennehy play off of each other marvelously. Woods is cold and calculating as the hit man and Dennehy is torn between his sworn duty as a cop and his desire to get to the truth.
"Best Seller" is not for the faint of heart. There are scenes of graphic violence, which I feel are necessary within the context of the story. The film is worth a look if for nothing else than to watch two veteran performers at their best.
I watched this because imdb users rated it well, and I wasn't disappointed. The casting of woods and brian dennehy is perfect which helps to make the story of an ex-hitman telling his story to cop-turned-author believable. Scenes at woods" boyhood home, and his parents also help; Woods" ex-hitman character is written and played as a real, multi-dimensional person, not as a stereotype.. The scene about the gift in the plane and his wanting to befriend dennehy, are quite touching.
What looks like a b-grade buddy film (there were plenty around this time and usually looking to be humorous), is far from it. Director John Flynn's 'Best Seller', which was written by Larry Cohen (who makes a crackerjack combination), is actually a stark, stinging and darkly witty and violent crime caper with an out-the-shadow concept. Novel writing (mainly the sharp exchanges and character inserts) and its zesty tempo couldn't be faulted. Even with its talky core, Flynn keeps it gustily hard-boiled and rancorous with its occasional action sequences and lean suspense. Knowing that it heavily relies on the performances to be successful, Flynn sets-up the film around the pairing of James Woods and Brian Denneby. Woods effortlessly vivid and unbalanced performance frighteningly commands attention and Denneby is sensationally rock-steady. The two worked off each other impeccably and build a sympathetic, but also conflicting edge that never feels forced. Cohen's biting script illustrates and develops quite a stimulating, random and unusual relationship between the two. While his usual social commentary (quite a familiar one) and plot devices playing second fiddle to the complex arrangement. The rest of the support cast don't quite have the same impression, but Paul Shenar and Victoria Tennant are good in their roles. The weak points would have to be that of Jay Ferguson's ugly sounding synthesiser score and a mishandled conclusion. A solidly rewarding crime thriller drilled home by two tremendous lead performances.
क्या आपको पता है
- ट्रिवियाJames Woods had just quit smoking prior to filming. When it came time to shoot the cigarette on the palm scene, Woods suggested he take an already lit cigarette off of a patron--that way he wouldn't have to light and smoke a cigarette.
- गूफ़While the robbery at the beginning of the movie was set in 1972, the robbers are driving a 1975-1978 Ford Econoline van.
- कनेक्शनReferenced in Saturday Night Live: James Woods/Don Henley (1989)
टॉप पसंद
रेटिंग देने के लिए साइन-इन करें और वैयक्तिकृत सुझावों के लिए वॉचलिस्ट करें
- How long is Best Seller?Alexa द्वारा संचालित
विवरण
- रिलीज़ की तारीख़
- कंट्री ऑफ़ ओरिजिन
- भाषा
- इस रूप में भी जाना जाता है
- Palabras que matan
- फ़िल्माने की जगहें
- Los Angeles City Hall - 200 North Spring Street, Downtown, लॉस एंजेल्स, कैलिफोर्निया, संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका(Interior and exterior shots. 1972 flashback robbery scenes- As Police Depository Building.)
- उत्पादन कंपनी
- IMDbPro पर और कंपनी क्रेडिट देखें
बॉक्स ऑफ़िस
- US और कनाडा में सकल
- $42,78,150
- US और कनाडा में पहले सप्ताह में कुल कमाई
- $9,05,399
- 27 सित॰ 1987
- दुनिया भर में सकल
- $42,78,150
- चलने की अवधि1 घंटा 35 मिनट
- रंग
- ध्वनि मिश्रण
- पक्ष अनुपात
- 1.85 : 1
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