You Kill Me

You Kill Me

IFC Films

June 22, 2007
Crime Comedy

DVD
D+

Not that violent, but not that funny.  John Dahl directed.

2 Guns

2 Guns

Marc Platt Productions

August 2, 2013

Crime Comedy
DVD
C-

Not really my thing, but the banter wasn't bad.  Baltasar Kormákur directed, between 101 Reykjavík and Adrift.

Turner & Hooch

Turner & Hooch

Touchstone etc.

July 28, 1989

Crime Comedy
DVD
D+

Unlikable title characters but a bit of nice coastal scenery.  Roger Spottiswoode directed, about three years after The Best of Times, and over twenty years before A Street Cat Named Bob.

Thick as Thieves (1999)

Thick as Thieves (1999)

Rogue Pictures

January 28, 1999

Crime Comedy
DVD
C

I liked the quirkiness and of course the appearance of Garofalo, but I wasn't that into the story.

Taxi (2004)

Taxi (2004)

20th Century Fox

October 6, 2004

Crime Comedy
DVD
C+

I was mildly entertained throughout, especially by the soundtrack.  Tim Story directed, between Barbership and Shaft.

Swing Time

Swing Time

RKO

August 27, 1936

Musical, Romance, Crime Comedy

DVD
C+

While some of the songs and dances are great, I was not happy with the script, with gambling, cheating, and dishonesty presented sympathetically.  And that's without getting into the blackface "tribute."  There are better Fred & Ginger movies, but this one is all right to pass the time.  George Stevens directed, before Gunga Din and Shane.

Super Troopers

Super Troopers

Jersey Shore etc.

February 15, 2002

Crime Comedy

DVD
D+

Stupid but could be worse I guess.  Jay Chandrasekhar directed, co-wrote, and stars as "Thorny."

Stand Off AKA Whole Lotta Sole

Stand Off AKA Whole Lotta Sole

Generator Entertainment

April 21, 2012

Crime Comedy

DVD
D+

If this was just a movie about Brendan Fraser living in Belfast, I'd enjoy it more.  Terry George directed and co-wrote, after Hotel Rwanda and Reservation Road.

A Simple Favor

A Simple Favor

Lionsgate etc.

September 14, 2018

Crime Comedy?

DVD
B

I read the Darcey Bell novel this is based on and found it so bad it was good, so obviously I was curious about this, especially with a director like Paul Feig and a "can't do anything wrong" star like Anna Kendrick.  (I don't hold Pitch Perfect against her.)  I found it delightful, aware of its own outrageousness but still working as a mystery.  (With significant changes from the book.)  I wouldn't quite say it's a great movie, but I was entertained, even through three (!) commentaries.

Showtime

Showtime 

Village Roadshow etc.

March 15, 2002

Crime Comedy
DVD
C-

Better than I expected.  Tom Dey directed, four years before Failure to Launch.

San Quentin

San Quentin

Warner Bros.

August 7, 1937

Crime Drama

DVD
C-

Of course I cared more about the whole soap-opera subplot (warden falls for singer with criminal brother) than, you know, the actual prison stuff.  Lloyd Bacon directed, after 42nd Street and before Action in the North Atlantic, with Bogie.

Reservoir Dogs

Reservoir Dogs

Miramax etc.

January 21, 1992

Crime Comedy?

DVD
D-

You know the drill by now.  I'm not going to like a Tarentino movie.  This one got bumped up for the brilliant casting of famously deadpan Steven Wright as a radio d.j.

Pixie

Pixie

Fragile Films etc.

23 October 2020

Crime Comedy
DVD
D+

Gory but I almost liked the title character.  Barnaby Thompson directed.

The Pink Panther (1963)

The Pink Panther (1963)

United Artists

December 18, 1963

Crime Comedy
DVD
C+

I grew up watching the Pink Panther movies, both the '60s originals and the '70s revivals (after a seven-year gap), but I honestly couldn't have described them beyond memorable opening cartoon credits (leading to the TV cartoon, which I of course also watched), attractive European women, and bumbling Inspector Clouseau, played by Peter Sellers.  So it was interesting revisiting the movie that launched it all, because it does contain those elements, but it's basically a standard '60s caper comedy that I'd give a C or less to if not for that silky yet playful Mancini score that I can hear echoes of on the soundtracks of everything from Bikini Beach to Down with Love.  Anyway, Sellers does establish his iconic role, but he's onscreen less than David Niven.  Blake Edwards directed and co-wrote, which is probably why there's a lot of suggested sex and that very amoral double ending.

One Night at McCool's

One Night at McCool's

USA Films etc.

April 27, 2001

Crime Comedy
DVD
D

I actually considered going lower on this, since it has a woman falsely claim she was almost raped, right before she seduces Matt Dillon, but it's a Michael Douglas movie, so it's not like I expected feminism.  Harald Zwart directed.

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

Warner Bros. etc.

December 7, 2001

Crime Comedy
DVD
C-

I saw this movie at the time and kind of liked it, but I couldn't get into it this time.  I did, however, bump it up a notch for Elliott Gould.  Steven Soderbergh directed.

Nuns on the Run

Nuns on the Run

Handmade Films

30 March 1990

Crime Comedy

DVD
C

This has potential, with those stars, and it's nice that producer George Harrison included his song "Blow Away," but this just didn't click for me.  Jonathan Lynn wrote and directed, about four years after Clue.

The Nice Guys

The Nice Guys

Warner Bros. etc.

May 20, 2016

Historical Comedy, Crime Comedy?

DVD

C-

Good period detail, but I didn't really care about the story or characters.  Shane Black directed and co-wrote.

International Crime

International Crime

Grand National Pictures

April 23, 1938

Crime Comedy?
DVD
C-

Marred by sexism but I did think it was mildly interesting to see something from the Shadow series.  Charles Lamont directed, three years after Circumstantial Evidence.

Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous

Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous

Castle Rock Entertainment etc.

March 24, 2005

Crime Comedy
DVD
C

I saw both Miss C movies in the theater at the time and enjoyed them more then.  (If there's anything this project has taught me is that popcorn and other perks of cinematic viewing generally make it more pleasurable than home viewing, but watching at home is obviously easier, especially during Covid.)  I own the 2000 movie on VHS and gave it a B-.  I gave this a half hour today, rooting for it to click, but it just didn't.  Still, yeah, I have definitely seen worse movies in this project.  John Pasquin directed.