Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
| Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Shane Black |
| Written by | Brett Halliday (novel) Shane Black (screen story, screenplay) |
| Produced by | Joel Silver Steve Richards Carrie Morrow Susan Levin |
| Starring | Robert Downey Jr. Val Kilmer Michelle Monaghan |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release dates | 21 October, 2005 |
Running time | 103 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $15,000,000 (estimated) |
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is a 2005 comedy/crime film. 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.
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 .
- Tagline: A bad week in a tough town
Plot
The movie is narrated by a small-time crook Harry Lockhart, played by Robert Downey Jr.. (Harry 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). In the final scene, Lockhart and Gay Perry, played by Val Kilmer, speak to the camera; the latter says that "the Best Boy is someone's nephew.")
Harry finds himself caught up in an acting audition by mistake when he is running away from police after a robbery failure. Posing as an actor, he is brought to Hollywood for an audition, where he meets a private-eye detective, Gay Perry, played by Val Kilmer, who is there to aid Harry in research for his role in the movie.
Harry is introduced to Hollywood parties where he meets his childhood dream-girl, Harmony Lane, played by Michelle Monaghan, who in fact back in high school had sex with everyone but Harry. The story sees all three finding themselves involved in murder cases similar to the detective stories which Harry and Harmony grew up reading.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Robert Downey Jr. | Harry Lockhart |
| Val Kilmer | Gay Perry |
| Michelle Monaghan | Harmony Faith Lane |
| Corbin Bernsen | Harlan Dexter |
| Dash Mihok | Mr. Frying Pan |
| Larry Miller | Dabney Shaw |
| Rockmond Dunbar | Mr. Fire |
| Shannyn Sossamon | Pink Hair Girl |
| Angela Lindvall | Flicka |
Reception
Critical
The film was significantly praised, but due to its limited release it has been overlooked for major awards and was appropriately voted "Overlooked Film of the Year" by the 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".[1] Jeff Otto, 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."[2]
Box office
Despite the film receiving mainly positive reviews, its praise by some means failed to garner much strength 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 films distribution increased every weekend due to its favourable critical reviews. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang stayed in release in the United States until early January.[3] The film earned a total of $4,243,756[4] in the United States.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang grossed far more outside the United States, accounting for just over 70% of the films worldwide gross, accumulating $11,357,375.[4] The film ended up earning $15,601,131[4] in worldwide numbers.
Trivia
- The title is a reference to James Bond whom in 1962 an Italian journalist dubbed "Mr. Kiss-Kiss, Bang-Bang".
- The film was originally titled You'll Never Die in This Town Again
- The best boy credits are given to Jack Bauer JvlivsCaesar
Notes
- ^ "oregonlive". Mike Russel: Don't miss the 'Kiss'. Retrieved 27 January.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "IGN". Jeff Otto: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. Retrieved 27 January.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "boxofficemojo.com". Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005) - Weekend Box Office. Retrieved 15 April.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c "boxofficemojo.com". Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005). Retrieved 15 April.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)