duke1907

According to Hollywood legend Paul Newman had the main character's name changed from Lew Archer to Lew Harper because he had better luck with movies that began with H for example Hud and Hombre. I also read that the main character was changed because the movie studio wasn't able to get the rights to Ross MacDonald's books. I prefer the first story. This is a great movie. It has Newman's best performance as the world weary detective. He is quick with a quip and a gun. He is just as tough as Bogart or Dick Powell or Mitchum. It has a great supporting cast. Lauren Bacall, Strother Martin, Robert Wagner, Shelley Winters< Pamela Tiffin and Janet Leigh as his long suffering ex wife. It has a complicated plot, but the action moves quickly. Jack Smight directs it with a light touch. It typifies everything about Southern California in the late 1960's. This movie is quick like a rollercoaster while the sequel The Drowning Pool (made several years later) is slow and plodding> I like to watch this several times a year. I highly recommend it.

I miss the good ol' days when Stallone starred in classic action movies like Cobra and Judge Dredd (I know they were terrible, but at least they were fun) now he tries to play Lee Marvin to a group that isn't quite a dozen and not very dirty. The main problem with this film is the action sequences if it's an action movie shouldn't you be able to see the action sequences. All of the fight scenes were so dark that it was hard to tell what was happening. There was no chemistry between the two best friends Stallone and Statham instead it seemed like they had just gotten together to make a movie and that't it. Of course Stallone wrote and directed the movie so there is tough guy dialogue through out. I think he is 60 years old now so by now he should have learned how to write decent dialogue. At least every character while in a fight scene puts up their dukes and tells their combatant "Come on!" That get's pretty boring after awhile. I also don't like celebrity cameos. Arnie and Bruce Willis really have no place in the movie. Their scene feels like something that was put in as an after thought. It was good to see Charisma Carpenter again since I was just thinking about her, but there isn't any time for women in this film. It's all about muscle bound macho guys. Film critics will be studying the gay subtext of this film just like they do with Top Gun. Stay away from this movie. Do yourself a favor.

Watch this movie for one reason only and that is to see an actress named Yaya Dacosta she is excellent in the film. She is the only thing good in the film and the only character that seems real plus she is stunningly beautiful. The previews make it seem like it is a feel good comedy which it is not. The directing is lazy and there are plot developments that are never explored. Julianne Moore is really good also, but she always is. I wanted to punch the Annette Bening character right in the face she was so annoying and both of the kids (who are supposed to be alright) are so unbelievable. Mark Ruffalo is OK, but someone needs to tell him to speak up and stop mumbling. I was very disappointed with the film and I don't encourage anyone to watch it.