Viva Las Nowhere

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.

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

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.

Viva may disappoint those viewers expecting the usual movie formula that builds steadily to a finish of climax/crisis/closure/resolution etc. If you enjoy a more European style of story + ambiance, with less reliance on a last-minute closure piece, then you'll likely find great enjoyment in Viva. I rate it way above the 5.8 that it's currently averaging, and I've noticed that a good many movies of a similar genre lose out by voters confused and trying to "get to the point" of the movie (there isn't one). It's not sharp, incisive, nor ground-breaking, and the real gems are the great character roles, the meandering story, with moments of great visual splendor or visual poetry, if that makes sense. Very enjoyable film for this viewer.

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.