Reviews: Hollywood Homicide

[JoBlo]

JoBlo's 4/10 review of HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE can be found here: http://www.joblo.com/hollywoodhomicide.htm

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[ilovemovies]

Well I enjoyed it. Surprisingly, it was more of a comedy than action movie. There is very little action until the ending. And even alot of the action is comical. Fortunately the movie works as a comedy. It is a very funny movie. And the audience I was with seemed to be having a good time too. Only real downside is how wasted Bruce Greenwood is yet again. His role didn't add anything to the movie though there was a funny scene where he has Ford and Hartnett questioned and when they pick up Ford after he found out he is sleeping with his wife (played by Lena Olin who is very funny in a much different role than her role on Alias and it is nice to see her). Oh and Ford and Hartnett work really well together.

* * * ( out of * * * * )

[dannywalker17]

HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE
Directed by Ron Shelton
Written by Ron Shelton and Robert Souza
Starring Harrison Ford, Josh Hartnett, Lena Olin, Bruce Greenwood, and Martin Landau

Rating: 8/10

I really enjoyed this movie and, unlike Jo, I found the whole movie to be packed with hilarious running jokes and one-liners. I also thought it had a better story than most action-comedies and liked the many subplots and the way they all came together. To me the humor was a little different. It was intelligent and witty rather than slapstick (although there was some of that too) or "dumb" humor and it was really fresh. I thought they got laughs out of things no one had thought of before. Ford and Hartnett are really funny together and all the cameos and smaller parts added well to the mix. The "interrogation scene" was indeed one of the more memorable moments this year and had me rolling with laughter, but there were many other hilarious parts such as the stuff with Hartnett's character trying to be an actor and any part that dealt with Ford and Hartnett's multiple jobs. The action was also exciting and fun and Hollywood Homicide is a definite must-see as it stands out from your typical buddy cop flicks and action-comedies in general. I had a really a good time.

[moviemuffin]

Hollywood Homicide Review
©http://www.reel-reviews.net

Rated PG 13 Running time 116

Starring: Harrison Ford, Josh Hartnett, Keith David, Lena Olin, Vyshonne Miller, Master P, Jamison Jones, Martin Landau, Lolita Davidovich, Lou Diamond Phillips, Frank Sinatra, Jr, Shawn Woods

Directed by Ron Shelton

A while back Will Smith produced a film starring Robert DiNiro and Eddie Murphy as two buddy cops who form a tentative alliance. The old guy was a curmudgeon and the young guy really wanted to act. It was called Showtime and it stunk.

Take that formula-- and make no mistake, it's formula-- and do it better. Call it Hollywood Homicide.

Harrison Ford plays a much more convincing elder cop in this comedy-cop-buddy flick. As Detective Galvin he is a much more palatable older stereotype, with all the wrinkles and bumps one expects from a cop movie. He drinks scotch, eats his cheeseburgers well done, and has little tolerance for rap music and yoga. Rather than have him grumble about rap music, we are reminded repeatedly of his preference by the ring tone on his cell phone (My Girl). There is a sweet scene in which he dances to Smoky Robinson. My favorite line? Ford romances Ruby, a radio psychic played by Lolita Davidovich. She calls him a stud and he dismisses the thought, but purrs to her as he kisses his way up her body, "if I take my ginko I can remember where I put my viagra."

Josh Hartnett acts with his eyes, and not much else. He works in the role, though I personally think soembody with great comedic timing would have really made this part zing: think Owen Wilson, Colin Farrell, any of the up-and-comers who know how to deliver a quick comeback. But Hartnett works as the cop-come-actor and sexual guru in his spare time.

The running bits, such as the cell phone ring tones and the backdrop of overpriced Hollywoood real estate, work, as well. Those minor touches are what sets this film apart from lesser buddy cop movies. Laughs break up what is a predictable and uninteresting mystery playing in the background. We know who did the killing; we don't really care who did the killing. We're more concerned with the characters and how they will realize their dreams.

Some of the better scenes played on the stereotypical themes of good cops being framed. The interrogation section was hysterical and different. The chase scenes were great, if wildly improbable. I can't imagine any cop commandeering a minivan with a mom and two kids in it and then going on a wild ride. But I shrugged it off and enjoyed it, as did everyone else in the audience. We all got a big hoot out of the bicycle bit. I won't say more than that, just watch for it.

Not high cinema, which seems in such short supply this year, but a good movie. Solid buddy cop stuff with good performances and loads of cameos from a group as varied as Gladys Knight and Frank Sinatra, Jr to Master P, Eric Idyll, and Lou Diamond Phillips (look CLOSELY, he's there).

Recommended for people who like cop films. It's been compared to Lethal Weapon. I'm thinking more along the lines of good 1970s tv. Lots of laughs, no surprises, but some interesting ways of keeping it new.

[Cronos]

Hollywood Homicide was a huge surprise for me, it was a hell of a lot funnier than i expected but also had more action than i thought it would. the script is pretty clever at times and has some good dialogue. the central performances are also pretty good (i was especially surprised by Hartnets performance) and they are also funny. the action scenes are also well done and look good, i especially liked the car chase. the plot and pacing at times wander though and i found myself easily distracted by other things at times. the direction was pretty good though and there was some good use of camera angles and lighting

7/10

[mcquade]

Definitely a solid movie, Harrison Ford plays his part perfectly. And the ending car chase and foot chase are nice action sequences with good laughs. How can you not laugh at Harrison Ford bike-jacking a little girl?