Double Frappe

Double Tap was a film relegated to HBO's cheesy Friday night premieres and that's a shame because it deserved so much more. It stars Heather Locklear (!), no I did not stutter, as a FBI agent involved in a sting operation who gets caught in the middle of a hitman's grocery list, seemingly he's taking down all the drug dealers in town. Along for the ride is Kevin Gage and Mykelti Williamson from Heat and the great Peter Greene. What distinguishes this effort is its terse dialogue, vivid characterizations, and stylish camera moves (loved the score by Moby). Double Tap should be held as a model for what a B movie low on cash but high on content can do. And Premiere magazine liked Montana, ha! This is the real deal folks.

This film was a pleasant surprise to watch. Heather Locklear was realistic and hot as the tough FBI agent with an introspective demeanor. She shows her range, with performances from this film to the cheesy Melrose Place. However, really, do FBI agents actually look like her and Gillian Anderson? The plot was believable and fast-paced, with Stephen Rea as the methodical/conscientious/efficient thug-killer. Some of his hits were pretty imaginative. The score could have been better, as well as the supporting cast. 7 out of 10.

So I came back after a fulfilling Thursday night, only to sit down for one of the best movies I've seen (regardless of the budget) in quite some time. Locklear fits the role to a tee...and this is coming from a guy whose mother tortured him by watching General Hospital after baseball practice EVERY SINGLE time! Rae demonstrates a keen role that made me shiver and relate at the same time. Even the cinematography was exceptional. A little over the edge at times with the one-liners, this mind-game of a flick still let's you laugh at the dark-humored, though deeply plotted, script. If you're going to watch this, watch it for the dialogue as much as you watch it for the action...and Heather, that's a really neat tatoo... <3

Stephen Rea is a philosophical gardener. Because gardening doesn't pay enough, I suppose, he's also a hit man with a signature of leaving a rabbit's foot next to his victims. Heather Locklear is in some law enforcement agency, although which is never quite clear. While she's trying to track him down, he's hired to kill her, so of course they fall in love which is never consummated.

It's a mildly ridiculous script, but director Greg Yaitanes manages some nice touches, like filming Miss Locklear in her group scenes so she is tiny. The leads underact, there are a few performers who will later become notable, like Mykelti Williamson, and the 90- minutes slid by before I noticed.

It doesn't sound like much. A direct-to-video flick with a generic title, starring Heather Locklear. However, Stephen Rea -not the type of actor you would expect in this kind of movie- gives a full-fledged characterization of a hit-man with a conscience and idiosyncratic habits (and I don't mean the double tap to the head of each of his victims; his other skills include gardening...). His relationship with the FBI agent played by Heather Locklear rings true. Add to this a flamboyant directorial style and a good soundtrack, and you get one of the better B movies of the year. Rating: 7.