TheOCflash (talk | contribs) Critical reception w/ reference |
TheOCflash (talk | contribs) Another film critic w/ reference. |
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Film critic, [[Roger Ebert]], writing for the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', liked the direction of the picture and Matt Dillon's work, and wrote, "This is Matt Dillon's first film since ''[[Drugstore Cowboy]]'', and demonstrates again that he is one of the best actors working in movies. He possesses the secret of not giving too much, of not trying so hard that we're distracted by his performance...[and director] Dearden helps it work because he doesn't press his point."<ref>[http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19910426/REVIEWS/104260301/1023 Ebert, Roger], ''Chicago Sun-times'', film review, [[April 26]], 1991.</ref> |
Film critic, [[Roger Ebert]], writing for the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', liked the direction of the picture and Matt Dillon's work, and wrote, "This is Matt Dillon's first film since ''[[Drugstore Cowboy]]'', and demonstrates again that he is one of the best actors working in movies. He possesses the secret of not giving too much, of not trying so hard that we're distracted by his performance...[and director] Dearden helps it work because he doesn't press his point."<ref>[http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19910426/REVIEWS/104260301/1023 Ebert, Roger], ''Chicago Sun-times'', film review, [[April 26]], 1991.</ref> |
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Critic [[Peter Travers]] was not as kind in his review of this remake of the film, especially when compared to the the 1956 original. In a review in ''[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]'' magazine he blasts the screenplay and the direction of the film, and wrote, "Though Dearden gets the surface right -- the movie looks sleek -- he skimps on characterization...[and] Dearden's script fails to provide the raw material that would let him go beyond the stereotype...Dearden merely walks the cast through a gauntlet of film noir ''cliches''"<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5948987/review/5948988/a_kiss_before_dying Travers, Peter], ''Tolling Stone'', film review, 1991.</ref> |
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==Comparisons to novel== |
==Comparisons to novel== |
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Revision as of 13:00, 30 November 2007
| A Kiss Before Dying (1991) | |
|---|---|
 Film Poster | |
| Directed by | James Dearden |
| Written by | Story: Ira Levin Screenplay: James Dearden |
| Produced by | Robert Lawrence |
| Starring | Matt Dillon Sean Young Diane Ladd |
| Cinematography | Mike Southon |
| Edited by | Michael Bradsell |
| Music by | Howard Shore |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release dates | April 26, 1991 |
Running time | 94 minutes |
| Countries |  United Kingdom United States |
| Language | English |
A Kiss Before Dying is a 1991 British and American neo-noir film directed by James Dearden based on the novel of the same name by Ira Levin. The book won the 1954 Edgar Award, for Best First Novel, and it has been adapted to film twice.[1]
The picture stars Matt Dillon and Sean Young.
A number of scenes in the film were shot at Port Talbot steelworks, South Wales, UK.
Plot
Jonathan Corliss Matt Dillon, is a schemer from the wrong side of the tracks with aspirations of wealth. Since childhood he has been obsessed with the fortunes of a company called Carlsson Copper.
While a student at the University of Pennsylvania, he plans to ingratiate himself with the wealthy family of magnate Thor Carlsson (Max von Sydow) and has begun secretly dating Carlsson's daughter Dorothy (Sean Young).
When Dorothy learns that she's pregnant she informs Jonathan that she'll be cut off without her inheritance when her father learns the truth. Jonathan decides to murder her, and makes it look like a suicide, then he moves to New York.
There, he makes the acquaintance of Ellen Carlsson (also played by Young), the late Dorothy's twin sister, and begins courting her.
This time he in more successful, winning Ellen's hand in marriage and a powerful position in his new father-in-law's company. However, Ellen has long suspected her twin's death and as she probes deeper into the suicide.
She uncovers alarming facts about some other murders and the identity of her sister's unknown lover.
Cast
- Matt Dillon as Jonathan Corliss
- Sean Young as Ellen/Dorothy Carlsson (playing twins)
- Diane Ladd as Mrs. Corliss
- Max von Sydow as Thor Carlsson
- James Bonfanti as Young Jonathan
- Sarah Keller as Lecturer
- Martha Gehman as Patricia Farren
- Lia Chang as Shoe Saleslady
- Yvette Edelhart as Screaming Lady
- Jim Fyfe as Terry Dieter
- Lachele Carl as Reporter
- Briony Glassco as Waitress
- Shane Rimmer as Commissioner Malley
- James Russo as Dan Corelli
- Adam Horovitz as Jay Faraday
Critical reception
The film received mixed reviews from film critics.
Film critic, Roger Ebert, writing for the Chicago Sun-Times, liked the direction of the picture and Matt Dillon's work, and wrote, "This is Matt Dillon's first film since Drugstore Cowboy, and demonstrates again that he is one of the best actors working in movies. He possesses the secret of not giving too much, of not trying so hard that we're distracted by his performance...[and director] Dearden helps it work because he doesn't press his point."[2]
Critic Peter Travers was not as kind in his review of this remake of the film, especially when compared to the the 1956 original. In a review in Rolling Stone magazine he blasts the screenplay and the direction of the film, and wrote, "Though Dearden gets the surface right -- the movie looks sleek -- he skimps on characterization...[and] Dearden's script fails to provide the raw material that would let him go beyond the stereotype...Dearden merely walks the cast through a gauntlet of film noir cliches"[3]
Comparisons to novel
This remake, while leaving Corliss' character basically unchanged (other than renaming him Jonathon), drastically changed the story of the novel.
Corliss fakes his own suicide after murdering Dorothy, and re-emerges as "Jay Faraday" to woo and marry Ellen (the "Mary" character was written out of the film).
The "Grant" character in the novel was recast as a homicide detective who had investigated Dorothy's death. Also, in the remake, Corliss meets his end while attempting to kill Ellen after she discovers who he really is; while chasing her down, and for the sake of irony, he is run over by one of her father's trains.[4]
Unsolicited awards
Wins
- Golden Raspberry Awards: Razzie Award; Worst Actress, Sean Young, for playing the twin who survives; 1992.
- Golden Raspberry Awards: Razzie Award; Worst Supporting Actress, Sean Young, for playing the twin who's murdered; 1992.
See also
Adaptations
- The Bollywood movie Baazigar starring Shahrukh Khan was inspired by the screenplay of this picture.
Footnotes
- ^ A Kiss Before Dying (1991) at IMDb .
- ^ Ebert, Roger, Chicago Sun-times, film review, April 26, 1991.
- ^ Travers, Peter, Tolling Stone, film review, 1991.
- ^ Levin, Ira. A Kiss Before Dying, Simon & Schuster, 1954. ISBN 0671201794.
