Coldblooded

With so many over-hyped major releases of recent years proving to be bitter disappointments, it's a real treat when I get to watch an older, lesser-known film with no expectations and am blown away by what I see. Director Wallace Wolodarsky's Coldblooded is such a film.

Jason Priestley (of Beverley Hills 90210 fame) plays Cosmo, a socially inept loner working as a bookie for an organised crime syndicate, who unwillingly becomes a hit-man when his gangster boss makes him an offer he can't refuse. After being sent to work alongside seasoned gunman Steve (Peter Riegert), in order to learn the ropes, Cosmo discovers that he is a natural when it comes to dishing out death.

Completely ruthless, quick thinking, and a great shot, he takes to the job like a duck to water, but also finds that wasting people for a living is rather stressful. In order to try and relax, he begins yoga, and soon falls for the pretty teacher who takes his class. But is it possible for him to continue in his line of work and be in love at the same time?

A quirky blend of dark humour and extreme violence, Coldblooded is a delight from start to finish. Priestly excels as Cosmo, a character that you cannot help but like, despite his monstrous ability to shoot complete strangers without skipping a heartbeat. The young killer's deadpan expression and bizarre mannerisms suggest that his mind functions in a manner different to most—his perception of right and wrong is certainly severely distorted—and whilst this doesn't excuse the fact that he is a brutal murderer, it makes his actions little easier to understand and, perhaps, even forgive.

The smart script, also by Wolodarsky, brims with offbeat moments, great incidental characters, and inky black comedy, and his talented cast (which includes great turns by Robert Loggia, as Cosmo's boss, and Kimberly Williams as his girlfriend, plus fine cameos from Janeane Garofolo and Michael J. Fox) don't put a foot wrong, delivering some truly excellent performances.

If you too are weary of overblown summer blockbusters that don't live up to the hype, track down this little gem of a movie to be reminded how good cinema can be when it's done right.

This is a movie I think you could say is in the same category as the classic Pulp Fiction. Where can you see a guy going around killing people in cold blood seemingly without any reason, if not in these two films. I really liked the way Jason Priestley plays his character, from a innocent, retarded kid to a cold-blooded assassin. I must say it seemed as a B-movie in the beginning, but as the movie went on, it only got better and better. Something else that was fun is Michael J. Fox's appearance in the movie. Great scene. A must see!

This little film is so tasty. I will bet you that you cannot think of a character in another movie that is similar to that of Cosmo. There is a hole in this man's soul where his moral compass should be, and we like it! I can see why Michael J. Fox liked this project. Its got the Teen Wolf kind of humor but its played completely straight. Not strictly a gangster movie. I hate gangster movies. This I loved.

Take one very introverted bookmaker and transform him into a highly successful hit-man. Now add an attractive yoga instructor to the mix and you have a talented killer in love. Though he clearly enjoys his work, he has no clue about relationships. This off-beat scenario easily drives "Cold Blooded" into black comedy territory. With sharp dialog, and fine acting from Jason Priestly, Kimberly Williams, Peter Riegert, and Robert Loggia, this is a must see for admirers of dark humor. The clever script is never boring, but is unpredictable and charming in a perverse sort of way. There is no DVD, but I highly recommend seeking out a VHS copy. - MERK

There are fewer and fewer ‘labours of love' in the movies these days- you start with a clever guy and a clever idea (right there most projects grind to a halt) get together a few bucks and some close ‘famous' friends-far too big a stars for this little project…and go out for an obscenely FEW amount of days and locations, add a little spit and bailing wire, and somehow come away with a movie.

Two Girls and a Guy is a good example, Let it Ride another one, but for my money, COLDBLOODED is the best of them all.

It's just that good.

Wallace Wolodarsky (supervising producer of The Simpsons) wrote and directed this darker than dark, black, dark black comedy about a young hit man protegee and his kooky environs.

Jason Priestly (as Cosmo Reif) shows the acting form not of Bev Hills 90210, but a foreshadow of his later work in Love and Death on Long Island. Kimberly Williams is perfect as the ingenue girlfriend, and Peter Riegert is spectacular as Cosmo's mentor Steve.

Robert Loggia, Janeane Garofalo and even Michael J Fox show up in smaller roles.

Not available on laser, you'll have to dig this one up on video, or on some of the more obscure cable options-but well worth the effort.