Indie Gems: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

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Robert Downey Jr: The Movie
 
I kid, I kid. Actually, I quite like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. (Obviously, because it's one of my Indie Gems.) It occurred to me while I was re-watching this yesterday that if someone who's only familiar with the last few years of RDJ's work, they'd be like "oh, he's just playing himself again." But this movie was at the beginning of his mini come back, so to speak. And it's one of his best.
 
Harry Lockert (Robert Downey Jr.) is a small time thief who stumbles into a movie audition while running from the cops. The scene he's reading is awfully similar to the one he's currently fleeing from, so he nails it. Now he's being prepped for said film by a private eye, Perry (Val Kilmer) all while running into his childhood crush, Harmony. (Michelle Monaghan) Then a bunch of other crazy shit happens.
 
My husband always gives me grief about this film, because he practically dragged me to the theater to see it. I don't know why I was so against it, but I was happy to be proved wrong and entertained throughout. There's not many films I actually enjoy Val Kilmer in, but this is one of them, and RDJ is at his best. Harry makes for an interesting narrator, and I liked how the movie itself was treated like an actual movie from his point of view. (That might not make sense now, but if you've seen it, you know what I mean.)
 
Grade: A-
 
Memorable Quote: "I'm retired. I invented dice as a kid." - Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.)

Comments

  1. asrap virtuosoOctober 11, 2013 at 11:07 AM

    The reason I was excited for Iron Man 3 (other than it being an Iron Man film!! doh!) was the reunion of RDJ and director/writer Shane Black who worked together on Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. While I enjoyed that Marvel film, it was no way even close to this classic here!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamOctober 12, 2013 at 8:41 AM

      I had high hopes for Iron Man 3 because of this pairing as well, but you're right. It definitely can't touch this classic.

      Delete
  2. s.October 11, 2013 at 11:17 AM

    LOVE this film. I was in tears when RDJ peed on the corpse :P

    ReplyDelete

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