Customer Reviews

Dick Tracy

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(24)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I have been a fan of this movie since it came out in 1990. I saw it in the theater, bought it on video tape and finally on DVD.
Imagine my surprise when I read Mr. Beatty was putting together a director's cut of this movie for a propose "Vista Series" release.
I read on various sites, including "Ain't It Cool," that 20-30 minutes would be added and the overall tone of the picture would be darker.
This was a couple of years ago and I haven't seen anything new on it.
I understand Mr. Beatty and Disney have gotten into some legal issues regarding who has rights over the film. I just hope they are resolved quickly and Mr. Beatty can get the Director's Cut out.
I love the first cut of the movie, but felt at times they were holding back on certain themes in order to bring in as many people as possible to make the picture profitable. If you look at the original comic, it was violent.
I loved Beatty as the honest cop, Madonna as the dame and Al Pacino as the ganster Big Boy. I also loved the fact they shot it in the basic color scheme of the comic.
The great things we are discovering with the DVD format is that now both the studios and the directors can have their cake and eat it too.
Studios can put out films at a length that can maximize ticket sales and directors can present their films as they intended on DVD for the people who want to see it.
I am really looking forward to the day we can see the director's cut of this film.
Disney and Mr. Beatty - DON'T KEEP US WAITING TOO MUCH LONGER!!!!!!!!!

The script lives up to its subject, a cartoon strip, but fans of the old Dick Tracy won't be disappointed. Our old favorite characters are all there and the soundtrack, especially Madonna's sexy "Sooner or Later" is fabulous. The production values are great, with a definite comic book feel and appearance, and even if we didn't get all these great items to enjoy, there's the cameo and casting with some of Hollywood's brightest stars. Definitely worth adding to your DVD collection

The DVD may not be fully loaded with extras or special features, but the outstanding picture and sound quality makes up for all of that..."Dick Tracy" is an incredible movie and can be enjoyed by everyone of all ages...Warren Beatty stars as Tracy; a tough detective who is determined to fight crime at any cost. One of the main bad guys he is trying to get off the streets for good is none other than Big Boy (Al Pacino). But Big Boy isn't going down without a fight, and is willing to put a stop to Tracy's career with his gang of colorful hoodlums... I really did enjoy this movie, and it is a classic. There are still elements of danger and suspence... The actors did a great job. Beatty is awesome as Tracy, but I have to say this; as always, it is Pacino who steals the show. He is so alive and colorful in this movie. Had it not been for his famous voice, you would've never known it was Al...Warren Beatty also directed the movie and did an awesome job at doing so. Everything about the movie was convincing and believable. Had this project been given to someone else, chances are that the results wouldn't had been as good.

This is a movie that you can watch with your kids, being that the rating of the movie is only PG. There is violence, but it is not graphic and is even really cartoonish at times. There is some sensuality in it...As I said, the DVD isn't loaded with any special features, but the crystal clear picture quality and phenominal sound makes up for it. The movie can be played in DTS, which sounds really fantastic...But the picture is the show stopper. The colorful and dark settings really stand out like never before. There is no way in the world that any VHS could do this movie the justice it deserves.

"Dick Tracy" is a great movie that continues to entertain people of all ages. Filled with action, suspence, and a lot of humor, this movie does not disappoint. If you have not seen the movie already, check it out as soon as you can.

When Tim Burton released "Batman" in 1989, producers at major movie studios were scouring for a film based on a comic strip character that would cash in on the success of that previous movie. In 1990, Warren Beaty produced, directed and starred in "Dick Tracy", a movie based on the popular 1930's detective series. Surrounding himself with some great setpieces and a barrage of well known names, "Dick Tracy" was released to a somewhat underwhelming response. However, 15 years later, the film has aged remarkably well.

Before I go any further, just let me state one thing. This film is campy. Extremely campy. However, this is one of those cases where camp actually works. The hideous makeup worn by the villians of the movie may have seemed rediculous then, but now, however, they seem almost funny. And they were indeed rather creative, as it won an Oscar. Seeing a bevy of famous faces buried beneath the layers of goo smattered upon them only adds to the enjoyment.

The film's plot? Well, to be honest, there's no actual plot, so to speak. Dick Tracy (Warren Beaty) is the top detective in town (never caught the name), and he's out to take down the top crime boss in town, Big Boy Caprice (Al Pacino). That's pretty much it. There's no elaborate scheme, no heist or anything like that. A wide variety of colorful characters pop up throughout the movie, such as blonde bombshell Breathless Mahoney (a surprisingly convincing Madonna), Dick's gal Tess Truehart (Glenn Headly), The Kid (Charlie Korsmo), dull witted mobster Mumbles (Dustin Hoffman) and a host of others. But the film never really developes an actual plotline. And that's the film's charm.

The cast assembled for this film stands as one of the greatest ensembles ever assembled for one movie. Beatty leads a cast that includes, in addition to cast members I already mentioned, Paul Sorvino, James Caan, Kathy Bates, Dick Van Dyke, Mandy Patankin, Charles Durning, Henry Silva, Catherine O'Hara, and William Forsythe. The real star of the show, however, is Al Pacino. Like Jack Nicholson when he played The Joker, Pacino absolutely steals the movie, chewing the scenery like a piece of gum and enjoying every minute of it as he gets a chance to lampoon pretty much every role he's ever done. It's no surprise he got a Best Supporting Actor nomination from the Academy that year.

The songs by Steven Sondheim are fantastic, including the Oscar winning "Sooner Or Later (I Always Get My Man)", sung with sultry flair by the material girl herself. The set design made the comics leap off the pages and come alive (the film used the same main coors from the comics). "Dick Tracy" may not be a masterpiece, but it's definitely worth owning.

I remember being intrigued by this movie when it first came out (when I was young and had not seen it yet). So I bought the DVD, saw it a few times and my verdict is in. I'm impressed with the effort put into it, such as the cartoon-like cinematography, art direction, legendary music by Sondheim, and all those cool cameos in the film (check the cast listing). Al Pacino did a good job as Big Boy Caprice and his Oscar nomination for supporting actor is well deserved. Although Beatty's performance as Dick Tracy is a bit dry, I believe the part called for it, the same goes for most of the characters. There is not much character development here with only one exception. This exception being the Kid (Charlie Korsmo), who starts out as a homeless-orphan-street-thief, but ends up being taken under Tracy's wing and becoming Tracy's sidekick. Korsmo acting seemed authentic, and some of the most emotional scenes in the movie are between him and Tracy. Such as when the Kid receives an honorary badge for saving Tracy's life, and when he chooses Dick Tracy Jr. for a name. Madonna looks really beautiful (perhaps the best she has ever looked on film) and does a decent job as Breathless, but her best parts are when she sings or her one-liners (but again I think the part called for it). Also I was pleasantly surprised that Madonna actually has two roles in the film (you would have to see to find out). Overall, though I was intrigued by the movie as a youngster, I must say that despite the considerable effort put into the film, I feel that it lacks charm and intrigue. But again for the third time think the comic strip origins of the movie called for it, and because of this it may leave viewers without any afterthoughts, and what adds to this is the fact that there is no special features at all on the DVD!

While the movie is visially great the writers seemed to have forgotten that it was not just the appearance of Gould's villans that made them famous and interesting but their character traits as well. Adding to this problem is that seemingly every famous villain Gould created between 1938-1949 is in the picture. So not only do you have way too many characters to flesh out properly but for them to fit the story many of the character traits and professions Gould gave them in the strip had to be removed or changed.

The irony here is because of this the LESS you know of Gould's actual creations the more you will enjoy the picture. Conversely if you are a die hard Tracy fan who knows Gould's villains inside and out this film is very disappointing.

A real classic. A blisteringly exciting, wildly hilarious and tremendously action-packed adventure. A dazzling film noir comedy that's truly one of the greatest comic book movies of all time. It's brilliant and simply extraordinary. A stylish masterpiece from Director and star Warren Beatty. He also gives on of his best and most entertaining performances ever in one of his best films. Al Pacino is simply magnificent, he gives an outrageously funny and wickedly enjoyable performance. It's smart, very funny and incredibly fun movie.

This still stands as one of the best of the comics brought to life - very colorful, great cast, wonderful soundtrack. This is one that you just have to pull out and watch from time to time.

A big cartoon. The major flaw with this film is that most of the characters seem like cardboard cutouts. As far as performances, Warren Beatty was okay as Dick Tracy, Al Pacino was great as Big Boy Caprice, but Madonna stole the show as Breathless Mahoney. She stole every scene she was in. While most of the characters seem like carboard, and are lame at times, Madonna creates a character of true depth, and you actually want her to steal Tracy from Tess Truehart. She is also given great lines like "You don't know if you wanna hit me or kiss me." Her singing scenes are the best of all. Unfortunately, Al Pacino and especially Madonna are not given enough screen time. This film sort of falls into a void because it's too violent for younger children, and it's not mature enough for adults. I did sort of feel empty after seeing this. While the film was good, it was way too cartoonish for me to own it. Dick Tracy (Beatty) goes through many catastropheys as he is trying to keep the city safe. He has to outwit Big Boy Caprice (Pacino), avoid being thrown in jail, and dodge Breathless Mahoney (Madonna). Tracy is trying to get Breathless to testify against Big Boy, while she is trying to seduce him. Tracy also has to outwit the mysterious villian known as "The Blank." This film won three Oscars for Makeup, Art Direction, and Best Original Song (Sooner Or Later.)

Overall Grade: B (9+)

I remember the summer of 1990. The movie studios had given me my first taste of what a summer of movies was like the year before with Tim Burton's BATMAN. So, in 1990 they had a lot to live up to. They didn't let me down with DICK TRACY. It was everywhere that summer. DICK TRACY MANIA! ANd it was beautiful, just like the film. They had contests, t-shirts standing in for movie ticket stubs that read "I was there first" for an early screening that started all over the country at 12:01 a.m. June 15. It was great! I did not get to see it opening day, but my dad did take my brother and I on that opening weekend. Director/star Warren Beatty (BULWORTH, REDS, BONNIE & CLYDE) plays thew title role along with Al Pacino (ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, THE GODFATHER 2 & 3, SCARFACE) as chief baddie Big Boy Caprice in all his evil goodness. Pacino is hilarious. The film also stars Madonna (EVITA, SWEPT AWAY, BODY OF EVIDENCE) as Breathless Mahoney and she has never looked so beautiful. The film has a wide variety of excellent villans FLATTOP, MUMBLES, PRUNEFACE, LIPS MANLIS, ITCHY, JOHNNY RAM and many, many others. A wild, visually stunning, fun and breathtaking thrill ride that delivers everything you could ask for in a fun summer movie experience. A+