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Suicide Kings

Suicide Kings

List Price: $9.98
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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best Christopher Walken movie ever?
Review: I saw this movie on cable a few years ago and was absolutely floored by it...couldn't understand how it never made any kind of a splash in the theatres (it was only upon the director's commentary track wherein the the complications involving distribution due to the insolvency issues surrounding the movie's original distributors that this became clear).

What we have here is a crime conspiracy mystery/potboiler the caliber of "The Usual Suspects" that features a spectacular ensemble cast of young male actors, offset by good veteran character actors (including Denis Leary, executing a terrific turn as the Cam Neely of bodyguards/hitmen, having as much a heart of gold as a vicious mean streak). But of course the thing that really makes this movie go is Christopher Walken, as effective in this role as any he's ever held. You could almost believe his role is an older, somewhat more mellow version of the mob caporegime he portrayed in 1993's "True Romance", longsince having made it to full boss and retirement to respectability. The plot revolves around his kidnapping by the aforementioned youthful ensemble cast in an attempt to cash in on a kidnapping/ransom scheme; the fact that Walken spends most of the movie taped to a chair and bleeding profusely, yet still unquestionably maintains the upper hand within his situation and exudes the air of pure menace only lends further testimony to Walken's stature as one of the finest actors of our time, often relegated to the status of cult films icon and undercredited for the sheer magnificence of his ability (it is easy to forget that his performance in the now 25-year old "The Deer Hunter" warranted him the Oscar for "Best Supporting Actor", after all).

The plot resolution is not necessarily new and can be easily enough fleshed out at the first viewing if you're more inclined to spend your time solving the mystery as opposed to just enjoying the actors' performances, but it still detracts in no way from this extremely stylish movie involving a very fluid and fast-paced narrative interspersed with several flashback sequences dating back from a period of several days to twenty-something years. The only disappointing aspect of this movie in my view was that Jay Mohr was not given the chance to further immortalize his own brilliant and hilarious imitation of Christopher Walken in the final print; how could this movie have been made without exploiting that obvious comedic opportunity?

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Very Funny and Dark
Review: "Suicide Kings" is a very good movie with a great ensemble cast. Different viewers will chose their particular favorites, but if you are an admirer of Christopher Walken you have all the reason you need to see this film. Denis Leary is the second best aspect of this film, and that is largely due to his smaller, but critical role. His defensive riffs on justifying his $1500.00 Stingray boots that others acknowledge as, "fish-boots", is quality stand up material.

Four prep-school, rich kid, lifelong friends, and a fifth that they mislead as only friends can do, decide they need to kidnap Christopher Walken for his diplomatic skills. His character is a modern version of Don Corleone so a decision to detain him against his will is poor judgment at best and lethal at worst. When Walken contacts his attorney to unravel this mess his first comments include, "don't send your kids to boarding school". The unwitting friend Ira, as played by Johnny Galecki is a riot as he frets over his parents newly finished floors and marked liquor labels, while, "The Godfather", is duct-taped to his father's favorite chair.

Christopher Walken is an amazing actor that deserves more recognition than he has been given. If there is an actor who can play a more sinister, purely evil character, without raising his voice, I have never seen him. This role is comparable to the part he played in another film when he introduced himself as the Anti-Christ. As brilliant a, "Player", as his character is, there is also a pair of low level goons that are the mob's equivalent of Laurel and Hardy.

The R rating is appropriate for the violence, and language that may or may not offend some viewers. There are no, "adult situations".

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Too many "coulda's"
Review: Warning, this review contains some spoilers!

I thought this movie was a bit of a disappointment because it could have been extremely good, and was merely average. The director here needed someone with more experience telling a story in a movie. The material he had to work with really would have made a nice "Pulp Fiction" style vignette, but doesn't carry for a full feature length film. Because of this weakness, they went ahead and filled a lot of the story with fluff. The fluff really detracts from the film, IMO. In particular:

1. Laura San Giancomo's character was completely superfluous. We find out through some director comments that they were orginially going to use her character as the motivation for the original ending. However, once they dumped the original ending (good idea, btw), they should have dumped her character entirely.

2. Does it really matter that one of the guys is a drug addict? Maybe it should (plays on paranoia, etc.) but all we get is a 30 second shooting up scene followed by a one line quip from Walken. If it's part of the story, develop it! If it's not, then leave it on the cutting room floor.

3. The Dennis Leary monologue on parental abuse. WTF? Leary's character does not need the character development, we know who he is, and he is not central to the story. This was clearly an interruption to the film.

4. The stupid flashback scene with Walken's neighbors. Again, we know who Walken's character is. He's a bad guy. This flashback should have been cut or a the very least put into the beginning.

Also, I really feel that the "twist" would have been better if they hadn't given away that there was an insider. Much better, IMO, to let the audience wonder if it is just a ploy by Walken. (and that way the subsequent card throwing scene wouldn't give away who the insider was)

It's all really too bad because at it's core this is a good story with some interesting characters. That and Walken make it worth watching.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 1 of my favs
Review: christopher walken is a mob boss kidnapped for ransom by a bunch of college kids who didnt plan well dennis leary is the mob boss hitmen coming to find the kids who kidnapped his boss to compound the problem the kids cutoff the mob boss fingers then regret it and panic a dark comedy/thriller many people have not seen cause its an independent film buy this killer dvd today

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not a Tarantino, But It's Walken!
Review: The only reason I ended up watching "Suicide Kings" was that I saw the DVD on sale for $6 at a major electronics dealer. I figured I should give it a shot-the cast was worth the price tag and I knew that I would drop at least $4 to rent it anyhow. I am glad I did. "Suicide Kings" is an intelligent mobster movie that, as many viewers have commented, follows in the shadow of Tarantino's films. The unpredictable violence of the film, particularly on behalf of Denis Leary, keeps you on the edge and in a state of tension. Christopher Walken's performance holds the entire movie together. To witness how he perfectly plays his unfortunate situation is like watching a master at work. By the end of the film, every one of his kidnappers is ready to buy him a drink-and I am as well. On top of Walken's performance, I was really impressed by Johnny Galecki, who had me laughing in every scene he appeared.

A few criticisms. While the dialogue in this film is pretty good, there is absolutely no plot. In movies that employ these devices, the dialogue must be absolutely top notch. I was never bored during this film, but the script could have used a bit more "oomph." Additionally, the editors did not seem to know how to end the film. There are many twists in the plot in the final moments of the film (as one might expect), but there is one too many in my opinion. Due to this fact, the film feels extremely rushed and incomplete in the final five minutes. I would say more, but I would give the film away. You'll have to see for yourself. I suggest you get "Suicide Kings" if you enjoy other films in a similar genre. The price of the DVD is extremely low and is worth a viewing.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: very entertaining
Review: Christopher Walken has got to have one of the best on screen presents in all of hollywood,this movie is great about 5 guys who decide to kidnap a mobster(walken) for money supposedly they need to get a girlfriend back who has also been kidnaped.Well acted by all the cast, with an edge of your seat feel, this movie is well worth the price asked and then some.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great movie and great bargain!
Review: Great movie with lots of thrills and great laughs! Christopher Walken and Dennis Leary at their best! A mobster gets kidnaped by a group of stupid unexperienced young men. Buy this movie! It's worth every penny!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: great actors..great script
Review: Walken is kidnapped by Sisto, Flannery, Mohr, Galecki and Thomas because Thomas' sister is kidnapped and held up for ransom....they need Walken's mob connections....his connections is lawyer DeYoung and his righthand man Leary. lots of twists and turns with standout performances by Leary, Walken and Galecki...the others are great too. also starring Brad Garrett from Everybody Loves Raymond.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best movie I have seen lately
Review: This action packed movie was done extremely well. Worth watching over and over!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Honorable Hoods & Depraved Rich Kids
Review: A great guy's flic. A great little study of male character. Leary's sardonic cruelty as a gangster "button" is nicely balanced with his gritty heroism towards the vulnerable (cf. scenes with the "busket" man and the hostess' abusive stepdad). Walken plays a retired don who, with humor and humility, has a heart for damsels in distress and sympathy for scheming, but pathetic prep boys trying to be bad-asses. The ex-godfather exudes this avuncular, Jedi-like street-wisdom that's hard to swallow as reality but is entertaining to watch, but only cuz it's Walken. The film doesn't try to sugar-coat anyone's criminality, but it admirably explores the place of honor among thieves and the capacity for moral vapidity among the suburban elite. It appears ruthlessness and compassion aren't so incompatible after all. Such morality plays are what make this film interesting. It also does a great job of probing male roles, friendship, and trust.

Great showcase performances most of the characters. Galicki as the wet-behind-the-ears Ira and Jay Mohr as the smart-mouthed control-freak were fabulous. Henry Thomas was solid but not stellar (more the script's fault than his acting). The set designs and script make this film feel like an on-stage drama. Fine balance of tragedy and comedy.

The audio quality is very poor for a DVD, but tolerable, especially considering the basement price. ...


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