Just as fantastic the second time around.
Film Illiterate, wherein the proprietor records movies seen, and sporadic progress through assorted lists of the "best". Originally started after regretfully renting something forgettable for the third time. I've forgotten what, but never again! A tedious endeavour since 2005. Hello. 🙂
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Ratings & comments
Captain Magic
Hilarious Raymond Chandler homage in which petty criminal-turned-actor Harry (Robert Downey Jr.) and gay detective Perry (Val Kilmer) -- he's jaded alright, but he's got tricks you'll never see Sam Spade use -- are drawn into an unlikely criminal conspiracy. It's a brilliant crime thriller, and it's a brilliant spoof of crime thrillers; the only downside is that knowledge of the genre is required to get the most out of it. (Encyclopaedic knowledge may be better -- I know I missed a lot of references.)
It was somewhat disappointing that the self-consciously reflexive narration disappeared halfway through, but by that time the chemistry between the leads had developed enough that extra injections of humour were no longer necessary. Even better, the laughs never overwhelm: the audience is never allowed to forget long that the issues involved -- like murder and sexual abuse -- are very serious indeed, no matter how amusing the characters investigating them.
Not a cinema classic, but definitely worth seeing.