On the Big Board |
| Position |
Staff |
In Brief |
| 11/166 |
David Mumpower |
Shane Black has created the best screenplay of 2005. This is one of the best action comedy achievements since the original Lethal Weapon which was, not coincidentally, also a Shane Black work. |
| 11/60 |
Les Winan |
The clever, well-made action comedy returns. Will likely not get the audience it deserves. |
You might not know the name, but you certainly know the work. Shane Black practically defined the buddy cop genre with his screenplay for Lethal Weapon, a movie that spawned numerous sequels and dozens of imitators. For all the popularity that Lethal Weapon gained, Black never moved behind the camera to the director's chair until now.
With Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, Black goes back to his roots. He both writes and directs this buddy action comedy that looks to reinvigorate the oeuvre. The story centers on a petty thief named Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) who is posing as an actor. While in Los Angeles for an unlikely audition, he crosses paths with his high school dream girl, Harmony Faith Lane (Michelle Monaghan). She believes he is a detective, and hires him to investigate the murder of her sister. To that end, Harry enlists the assistance of Perry Van Shrike (Val Kilmer), a detective who has been training him for a movie role. Naturally, the case will take them through numerous twists and turns, with a dash of romance.
After playing at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang has already developed a fair amount of buzz. Look for it to be a decent mid-level performer upon its release. (Kim Hollis/BOP) (Kim Hollis/BOP)
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