Um Salto para o Perigo

PM was best known for making hyper-action movies, though occasionally they would try something different, in this case tackling the hard-boiled detective drama. The screenplay (by PM regular screenwriter William Applegate) seems to have been written to be more or less straight, with occasional bursts of comic relief. However, it becomes an unintentional comedy for much of its running time because of C. Thomas Howell. Looking here very much like Jim Carrey in DUMB AND DUMBER, Howell is a howl, gnashing his teeth and trying to act tough and spout out hard-boiled narration. (And dressing in a trenchcoat and hat, even though the story takes place in the present day!) If Howell was intending this to be a spoof of the genre, he needed to know that in satire, less is often more.

A much better performance can be seen with Jeff Kober, who manages to be pretty creepy and menacing without the screenplay giving him much to do. The screenplay also doesn't give us much sense, with plot details and incidental actors equally murky at times. Howell's directing is more competent than his acting, boasting some impressive shots and a few not-bad scenes, though he proves to be helpless at this point at directing action scenes. He might even pull off his next (if ever) directing effort, if he first puts in a lot of preparation and gives up some creative control.

C. Thomas Howell both directs and stars in this little gem of a movie, that more than proves his worth (and potential) in both forums. Despite a rather dull run-of-the-mill storyline, the film is enhanced by some snappy dialogue, brought wonderfully to life courtesy of an inspired performance (both in front and behind the camera) by the charismatic C. Thomas himself. It is an absolute crime that this incredible actor isn't getting the recognition he so richly deserves. Watch this film and then go figure!

I got this movie as part of a 10-movie DVD collection at Walmart because we like love to watch them and make fun of the horrible ones. After sitting through several of those crapfests, I figured this would be the same. I was wrong. This was actually probably the best movie in the collection.

The PROS: It was directed well; Howell has an eye for intrigue and action. My favorite thing about this movie is the way Howell and the production team melded the aesthetic and feel of a 40's noir flick with its contemporary environment; it didn't feel out of place or forced. It's like Howell was wise enough to know he didn't have the budget to pull off a full blown, believable 1940's detective movie so he blurred the lines and gave us a very clean and exciting picture. Now THAT'S good film making!

The CONS: The only thing that kept pulling me out of the story was how much Howell resembled Jim Carey from 'Dumb and Dumber'. It was also kinda difficult for me to buy into the idea of baby-faced Howell being this tough-as-nails, rough and tumble private eye. But, he does get his a$$ kicked enough to offset that notion and make it a bit more believable.

A lot of B grade baddies flicks, courtesy of our lost outsider Howell, are really bad, but do have interesting stories. It's the norm with this guy, some of them aren't bad, and how his career took a slump into all this movie muck, is so unjust. This one of Howell's, which he's directed is a film noir tale, that is fun, and funny like new employer of Howell's, Seder, sharpening his pencil, or cool Blaise Rybeck (Howell) the name showing style and creativity, hanging from an American flag, spouting in a relieved burst of breath, "God bless America". Then off his words, the flag, rips. Hey that's not only darn original, but funny. He has an interesting, offbeat film here, intriguingly different, making it a lot of fun, with Howell becoming somewhat of a action start, even though there's not a lot of it in this. He's approached by a beautiful woman, looking for her missing brother. The film then kind of becomes a little like Point Break, where he goes undercover with some bungee jumpers, suspects, who might know the truth of where the long lost brother is. So trying to fit in, and not offend them, he himself takes the plunge, and loves it, screaming "WhhOOOOOOL! as he swings widely, back and forth. The lead bungee jumper becomes someone of a shady guy, suspecting Howell of playing funny buggers where he runs into some other bad dudes, led by 80's icon baddie, and real life meditation expert (Jeff Kober). It's great watching Howell jumping roofs of cars, what have you, an actor I've always loved. And even though The Big Fall isn't the best action piece ever made, still with it's humour, a genuine and good, if absorbing performance from Howell, though sometimes you can't help unintentional, little snickers, sneaking in, here and there, tasty Sophie Ward, and being an offbeat kind of movie, that does retain an offbeat style, it is a night's worth, piled up in front of the t.v. Who knows. You may just like it. A film definitely worth falling for.

This movie started out great, very Sam Spade, very pulp fiction, on the order of the 30s-50s stories penned by Raymond Chandler and others. Unfortunately, the story couldn't keep up the pace and the tone changed drastically to a 90s chase/shooter. Not to say that this movie isn't worth watching. That said, Mr. Howell has potential, obviously as an actor, and does a good job as an initial directing effort. Sophie Ward is wonderful as the client/seductress.