Viva Las Nowhere

I saw this film at the Calgary International Film Festival. I have to admit, it was not high on my list when I looked at the other films that were being shown. I was pleasantly surprised. The story is not complex, but it is unpredictable. The cinematography is wonderful and the acting is good - except for a couple of scenes. It was a very funny film, definitely worth seeing.

Daniel Stern carries this "black comedy" as a likable, sympathetic, wannabe country and western singer. Unfortunately he is stuck in the middle of nowhere, running a tacky motel, with his shrewish, bible thumper wife. Various characters, all of which are well developed, become involved in murder, with plenty of dark comedy throughout. The best part about "Dead Simple" is the acting by Daniel Stern, James Caan and Patricia Richardson, and the "Fargo"-like script. The movie is both unpredictable and highly entertaining. If you like dark comedies such as "Clay Pigeons" or "A Simple Plan", then this is worth checking out. Recommended of its type. - MERK

this movie plays out like a moronic half-assed combination of surface level tropes aped from better movies like blood simple and Fargo and then slathered in country music, with none of the style or substance provided by the coen brothers. terrible script, terrible acting, ridiculous plot... bad all around. the music is bad, the lip syncing is horrible. the second girl who ends up "singing" the main characters songs looks like shes having a seizure during the scene when she wows us with her amazing voice. sweet lord i hated this movie. avoid at all costs unless you are morbidly curious about the kind of trainwreck that results when the director of bio-dome thinks he can make a real movie.

This is one of those films I can easily watch over and over again. I say this because I have watched it over and over again. A great cast of interesting characters. A delightfully funny film. I have recommended it to everyone I know.

I was attracted to this movie on the theory that certain good actors have a knack for avoiding dreck and choosing good material. This has been true, in my book, for James Caan, an excellent and underrated performer. The movie - in my video store under the title 'Dead Simple' - proved to be an above average black comedy that draws the viewer into a web of more and more complicated deceit, murder, manslaughter and treachery. Also practically worth the price of the rental alone is the delicious Lacey Kohl in the bimbo role, a most alluring piece of eye candy. And Caan's Willy-Nelson-style tonsorial garb is a sight to behold. This overlooked movie is well worth renting.