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Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey, Jr.) finds himself abroad a high profile Hollywood party when he is
fortunately saved by an on-going auditions from being busted by New York cops. In the party, we are introduced to Gay Perry (Val Kilmer), a homosexual detective who will
give him private lessons to prepare for his part, and Harmony Faith Lane (Michelle Monaghan), an aspiring actress who intends to get famous and rescue her younger sister.
The three find themselves entwined in a murder plot.
As they are brought deeper and discover the real story behind all the murders, they also become involved deeper into a real friendship.
The movie carries heavy shades of an independent filmmaker style as one tries to break it down for
analysis all you will have are little tasty crumbs but no substantial piece. Everything in the movie is there for its own sake, not making any attempt to achieve coherence.
The movie is as good or as bad as one decides -- in terms of storytelling and style. Technically, there is a good choice and assembly of cinematography, editing, production design and performance to make the film solid enough for its running time. The comedy is witty but treading dangerously on the offensive. The film is cleverly complicated and with all the spoofs and humor. There is a chilling truth in the storytelling that hits the audience.
The movie does not attempt to make a point, whether moral or otherwise. However, what is
obvious is the emphasis on dualities of the characters. For instance, a man makes no qualms about robbing a store with the full knowledge of a child but tries every inch to
be a gentleman with the ladies, dead or alive or how a sister works hard to rescue her little sister from incest while she brushes off passes made to her. At the end, the
main characters, with these flaws to begin with, try to do a good deed for the other -- perhaps saying that at the heart of every person is that innate desire to do what is right.
The problem is the characters are thrown in a society that accepts violence and promiscuity as a way of life and smirks at a brawl in the party, shooting in the middle of the streets, or sex shows as open entertainment. What viewers also can think about is how social values can slowly desensitize and transform a man (Harry who never killed before found it easier and easier the succeeding times). The movie can be a good contextual study for film art professionals and very analytical persons but may not be appreciated by the regular viewer. Not suitable for the young and less mature
(Date Reviewed: 15 December 2005)
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