JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonMiami Blues (1990) - Trailer Included
August 30th 2007 05:08
Hot times in Miami's vice.
Writer/Director: George Armitage
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Fred Ward, Charles Napier
“Thinking he is alone... breaking, entering... the dark and lonely place-places... ... finding a...big gun…... smelling like a rose.” – Junior improvised Haiku
Occasionally a screenplay foresees the direction that film culture is heading and post dates a genre revolution (EG: A Clockwork Orange). So hip and cinematically symbiotic that only those looking for the fresh original material can begin to appreciate it, Miami Blues was that film in 1990.
Based on the first book in Charles Willeford’s Hoke Moseley detective series this quirky, black comedy mixes crime and unpredictable violence into a cocktail of visceral thrills.
“Now I'll tell you what I want you to sew my eyebrow back on.” - Junior
It’s the 80’s and a volatile sociopath Frederick J. Frenger Jr. (Alec Baldwin) is fresh out of the joint and heads to Miami Florida. Not for the sun and fun but to launch a frenzied crime wave. Entering the airport it isn’t long before he commits his first homicide, breaking the fingers of a Hari Krishna who goes into shock and dies of a heart attack.
Assigned the case is aging, haggard detective Hoke Mosley (Fred Ward), slipping in his false teeth he is soon in pursuit of Junior. Meanwhile our unhinged thief has hooked up with Susie (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a trusting, easily led student who works as a prostitute to pay the bills.
“The first thing they shoulda told you at your hooker classes is that you shouldn't ask so many fucking questions.” - Junior
As Mosley closes in on his prey Junior’s rampage escalates when he ferociously bashes the cop and steal his badge and gun. Now no one is safe as the warped hoodlum begins exploiting his new found artificial authority and targets anyone who gets in his way.
“He got your gun... your badge... and your teeth? You are a disgrace to the police force.” –Sergeant Lackley
John Doe says:
Immediately establishing a tone of dangerous, pulp hyper-reality with Norman Greenbaum “Spirit in the Sky” blaring over the opening credits. Miami Blues edgy humour, eccentric characters and colourful staging all create a mood of spontaneity seldom achieved in this type of film. Brash and occasionally outlandish, stringently avoiding formula effectively circumventing stereotype.
Roger Corman alumni Director George Armitage (Grosse Point Blank) is obviously open to ideas, confidently keeping the narrative purposefully loose and skilfully embracing the craziness inherit in the screenplay. Managing to surprise with each new scene, the actors are given free reign becoming fictional individuals each with unique traits.
The often wooden Alec Baldwin (Hunt For Red October, Heavens Prisoner, BeetleJuice, Talk Radio, Thick as Thieves, State and Main, The Cooler, The Departed) lodges his most defined performance this side of Glengarry Glenross. In his hands the twisted morality of Junior is made plausible, emoting charismatic intelligence like a DNA mix of Tyler Durden and Patrick Bateman.
The actress of her generation, Jennifer Jason Leigh (Last Exit to Brooklyn, The Hitcher, Kansas City, Flesh and Blood, Palindromes, Existenz, Georgia, Hudsucker Proxy, fast Times at Ridgemont High, Short Cuts, Rush) is as always bold with her body language and manages to play naïve without stupidity, charming without sugar.
Often ignored Fred Ward (The Right Stuff, Tremors, Uncommon Valor, Southern Comfort, Remo:Unarmed and Dangerous, Henry and June, The Player, Bob Roberts, Short Cuts) balances a tough guy exterior with sly comedy to become the ideal foil to Baldwin’s necessary screen hogging.
Miami Blues is regularly mentioned by John Doe alongside the likes of Things to Do In Denver when Your Dead as a modern unsung gem of the genre. Avoiding Tarantino’s derivative style that would arrive 2 years later, there is a distinct personal flavour to the film taht sets it apart from all that came before or followed.
The DVD:
Transfer: 16:9 Widescreen/Dolby Digital 2.0
Extras: Nil
The Trailer
An alternate Trailer
DVD Cover
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Fred Ward, Charles Napier
“Thinking he is alone... breaking, entering... the dark and lonely place-places... ... finding a...big gun…... smelling like a rose.” – Junior improvised Haiku
Occasionally a screenplay foresees the direction that film culture is heading and post dates a genre revolution (EG: A Clockwork Orange). So hip and cinematically symbiotic that only those looking for the fresh original material can begin to appreciate it, Miami Blues was that film in 1990.
Based on the first book in Charles Willeford’s Hoke Moseley detective series this quirky, black comedy mixes crime and unpredictable violence into a cocktail of visceral thrills.
“Now I'll tell you what I want you to sew my eyebrow back on.” - Junior
It’s the 80’s and a volatile sociopath Frederick J. Frenger Jr. (Alec Baldwin) is fresh out of the joint and heads to Miami Florida. Not for the sun and fun but to launch a frenzied crime wave. Entering the airport it isn’t long before he commits his first homicide, breaking the fingers of a Hari Krishna who goes into shock and dies of a heart attack.
Assigned the case is aging, haggard detective Hoke Mosley (Fred Ward), slipping in his false teeth he is soon in pursuit of Junior. Meanwhile our unhinged thief has hooked up with Susie (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a trusting, easily led student who works as a prostitute to pay the bills.
“The first thing they shoulda told you at your hooker classes is that you shouldn't ask so many fucking questions.” - Junior
As Mosley closes in on his prey Junior’s rampage escalates when he ferociously bashes the cop and steal his badge and gun. Now no one is safe as the warped hoodlum begins exploiting his new found artificial authority and targets anyone who gets in his way.
“He got your gun... your badge... and your teeth? You are a disgrace to the police force.” –Sergeant Lackley
I'm sorry you looked like Billy, or is it Stephen?
John Doe says:
Immediately establishing a tone of dangerous, pulp hyper-reality with Norman Greenbaum “Spirit in the Sky” blaring over the opening credits. Miami Blues edgy humour, eccentric characters and colourful staging all create a mood of spontaneity seldom achieved in this type of film. Brash and occasionally outlandish, stringently avoiding formula effectively circumventing stereotype.
Roger Corman alumni Director George Armitage (Grosse Point Blank) is obviously open to ideas, confidently keeping the narrative purposefully loose and skilfully embracing the craziness inherit in the screenplay. Managing to surprise with each new scene, the actors are given free reign becoming fictional individuals each with unique traits.
The often wooden Alec Baldwin (Hunt For Red October, Heavens Prisoner, BeetleJuice, Talk Radio, Thick as Thieves, State and Main, The Cooler, The Departed) lodges his most defined performance this side of Glengarry Glenross. In his hands the twisted morality of Junior is made plausible, emoting charismatic intelligence like a DNA mix of Tyler Durden and Patrick Bateman.
The actress of her generation, Jennifer Jason Leigh (Last Exit to Brooklyn, The Hitcher, Kansas City, Flesh and Blood, Palindromes, Existenz, Georgia, Hudsucker Proxy, fast Times at Ridgemont High, Short Cuts, Rush) is as always bold with her body language and manages to play naïve without stupidity, charming without sugar.
Often ignored Fred Ward (The Right Stuff, Tremors, Uncommon Valor, Southern Comfort, Remo:Unarmed and Dangerous, Henry and June, The Player, Bob Roberts, Short Cuts) balances a tough guy exterior with sly comedy to become the ideal foil to Baldwin’s necessary screen hogging.
Miami Blues is regularly mentioned by John Doe alongside the likes of Things to Do In Denver when Your Dead as a modern unsung gem of the genre. Avoiding Tarantino’s derivative style that would arrive 2 years later, there is a distinct personal flavour to the film taht sets it apart from all that came before or followed.
The DVD:
Transfer: 16:9 Widescreen/Dolby Digital 2.0
Extras: Nil
The Trailer
An alternate Trailer
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I love that scene when he finds that huge handgun, the way he says that line! Fucking hilarious ....
And the violence! OWWW! Those poor fingers!!!
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
When Alec is cast in the right role he can be very effective.(Glengarry Glenross, The Cooler) damn he even made a better Jack Ryan than Harrison Ford.
Stephen was great in the Usual Suspects.
Miami Blues always has me laughing at it's bravado...the machete finger amputation is still a powerful image.
Comment by Louie
Climate Forum
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Alec is in full self aware cool mode for Miami Blues and there is some raunchy sweaty lovin too...have you seen it?
Comment by D. Armenta
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Comment by Cibbuano
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Techbreak
I've seen this, a long, long time ago... I remember enjoying it, though the idea of 'vinegar pie' seemed nasty..
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
i think you will enjoy this films gritty lunacy.
Hi Cib,
Totally agree he looks like Stephen with the crew cut and the vinegar pie still sounds disgusting.
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
loved this film...a lil campy, a lil sexy and a lil trashy...
My kinda film!
LOL
Great review as usual...
Take care my friend,
Nick
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
It really does have that same mood as Jonathon Demme's Something Wild, a fun ride of surprises.