12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I REALLY enjoyed the film, September 15, 2001
This review is from: Dead Simple (DVD)
I'm a fan of noir in general and of comic noir in particular, so it won't surprise you that I REALLY enjoyed the film. Im fact, I really can't think of any recent direct-to-video release that I've liked more. I rented the video on a flier, mostly because of the cast. The core of the film is the plot twists, which work exceptionally well - I had to stop the video twice (when the wife is shot and for the electrocution scene) just to catch my breath. The obvious comparison is with the Coen Brothers work, but I was also reminded of WILD THINGS and CLAY PIGEONS. It's beyond a crime that utterly worthless crud like TOMCATS and RUSH HOUR II makes it to the multiplex and this film is relegated to a video only release. It would easily make my top ten of the year - and I'm a pretty mainstream person with tastes pretty much the same as people like Roger Ebert. I'll recommend it to all my friends and keep my eyes peeled for the director's next release. Oh, and the music is actually good - good enough to stand on its own -- and I'm not a big country fan. Overall: BRAVO! And thanks!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
aka "VIVA LAS NOWHERE", June 28, 2003
This review is from: Dead Simple (DVD)
Frank Jacobs (Daniel Stern) is not the most fortunate guy in the world. A struggling songwriter who is married to a borderline psycho Helen(Patricia Richardson) and operating a run down hotel in the middle of nowhere; Frank's existance seems to be a perpetual dead end. But he soon sees an opprtunity to reverse his bad fortune when at the local nightclub he meets a country western singer, Julie (Lacey Kohl) who is married to a has-been music star named Roy (James Caan). Frank sees Julie as the perfect opportunity to get his songs published. Roy is none too pleased at his wife for this and this leads to them having an argument, which ends up with Frank offering to let Julie stay at his place for the night. As you'd have guessed by now, Helen flips her wig at this so in a fit of rage Frank kills her and buries her in his garden, then sets off with Julie to seek fame and fortune. But nothing goes as planned; although the blood and bone fertiliser of the human kind is doing wonders for Frank's tomatoes...
Also known as VIVA LAS NOWHERE, DEAD SIMPLE is a cliched movie directed by Jason Bloom; who made BIO-DOME, one of the most moronic and excruciating movies ever made. This is an improvement. But unfortunately this black comedy thriller coasts for a while on the power of its stars, then limps towards the finish line in the final act. Worst of all, there's plenty of godawful country western music; which gives the DEAD SIMPLE special appeal for backwoods hicks, rednecks and slack-jawed yokels. The good cast is wasted, and DEAD SIMPLE is further proof that James Caan's career is sinking further into direct-to-video hell, no matter how good an actor he is. DVD also includes the trailer.
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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Julian from ?, October 2, 2001
By A Customer
Great film. Daniel is great. great comedy, thriller very suspensful. james Caan is great also
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