Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kiss Kiss Bang Bang | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang |
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| Directed by | Shane Black |
| Produced by | Joel Silver Steve Richards Carrie Morrow Susan Levin |
| Written by | Novel: Brett Halliday Screenplay: Shane Black |
| Starring | Robert Downey Jr. Val Kilmer Michelle Monaghan |
| Music by | John Ottman |
| Editing by | Jim Page |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) | November 11, 2005 |
| Running time | 103 min. |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $15,000,000 (estimated) |
| Gross revenue | Domestic $4,243,756[1] Foreign $11,541,392[1] Worldwide $15,785,148[1] |
| Official website | |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a 2005 crime/black comedy film, which follows many conventions of the classic film noir genre. It is based, in part, on the novel Bodies Are Where You Find Them by Brett Halliday. The screenplay was written by Shane Black who also directed the film. It was produced by Joel Silver, Carrie Morrow, Susan Levin and Steve Richards. The cast includes Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan as well as Corbin Bernsen, Dash Mihok, Larry Miller, Rockmond Dunbar, Shannyn Sossamon and Angela Lindvall. The title is a reference to Pauline Kael's 1968 book, which in turn was named after a translation of an Italian poster of a James Bond movie, which she called "perhaps the briefest statement imaginable of the basic appeal of the movies."[2]
It was filmed in Los Angeles between February 24 and May 3, 2004. After debuting at the Cannes Film Festival in France on May 14, it received a limited release in cinemas in late October and early November of 2005. It was the first film produced by Public Media Works, a production company founded by Corbin Bernsen.[3]
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[edit] Plot
The movie is narrated by a small-time crook, Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.). He is self-aware and talks to the audience at various times through the movie. (See also the theatre concept of the fourth wall and metafiction).
Running away from police after a failed robbery Harry runs into a movie audition to escape and interests the producers. Posing as an actor, he is brought to Hollywood, where he meets homosexual private-eye Gay Perry (Val Kilmer), who is there to help Harry research his role in the movie.
Harry is introduced to Hollywood parties and enounters his childhood dream-girl, Harmony Lane (played by Michelle Monaghan). All three find themselves involved in complicated murder cases similar to the detective stories which Harry and Harmony grew up reading.
[edit] Cast
- Robert Downey Jr. as Harry Lockhart
- Val Kilmer as "Gay" Perry von Shrike
- Michelle Monaghan as Harmony Faith Lane
- Corbin Bernsen as Harlan Dexter
- Dash Mihok as Mr. Frying Pan
- Larry Miller as Dabney Shaw
- Rockmond Dunbar as Mr. Fire
- Shannyn Sossamon as Pink Hair Girl
- Angela Lindvall as Flicka
- Indio Falconer Downey as Harry Age 9
- Ariel Winter as Harmony Age 7
- Duane Carnahan as Chainsaw Kid
[edit] Reception
[edit] Critical
The film was significantly praised, but due to its limited release, was overlooked for major awards and was voted "Overlooked Film of the Year" by the 2005 Phoenix Film Critics Society on December 20, 2005.
Many critics admired the film for its sharp and clever comedy, as well as alluding to Black's directing and Downey Jr. and Kilmer's performances. Mike Russell of the Portland Oregonian observed that, "This is one of Downey's most enjoyable performances, and one of Kilmer's funniest. It's a relationship comedy wrapped in sharp talk and gunplay, a triumphant comeback for Black, and one of the year's best movies".[4] Jeff Otto, an IGN critic, wrote that "It takes a bunch of genres and twists them into a blender, a pop relic that still feels current...one of the best times I've had at the movies this year."[5]
[edit] Box office
Despite the film's mainly positive reviews, it failed to garner much attention at the United States or international box office.
The film opened on October 20 in the United States, with a limited release. From its release until mid-November, the film's distribution increased every weekend due to its favorable critical reviews. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang stayed in release in the United States until early January.[6] The film earned a total of $4,243,756 in the United States.[1]
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang grossed far more outside the United States, accounting for just over 70% of the film's worldwide gross, accumulating $11,357,375.[1] The film ended up earning $15,785,148 worldwide at cinema.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005). Box Office Mojo. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
- ^ :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews :: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (xhtml)
- ^ Bernsen goes DVD premiere. Public Media Works premiere its first movie Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Daily Variety, September, 2005
- ^ Mike Russel. Don't miss the 'Kiss'. OregonLive.com. Retrieved on 27 January, 2006.
- ^ Jeff Otto. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang Review. IGN. Retrieved on 27 January, 2006.
- ^ Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005) - Weekend Box Office. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved on 15 April, 2006.
[edit] External links
