somf Review of Judas Kiss

Judas Kiss (1998)

Decent noir plot ruined by hack Tarantino wannabe writing

[6/10 · 10 October 1999]

Someone compared this to a John Dahl film in their comments and that's a great place to start because Dahl would have made a great film from this story. Guiterrez has written so many ridiculous scenes in this movie. Beginning with the opening soft core porno scene, and reaching it's pinnacle when the bad guys have a stupid discussion about the movies. Where have I seen that before. Well, let's start with Diner and then all the Tarantino films, but hey the scenes in those films worked. His gang of baddies are terrific actors. Carla Gugino is so very sexy (but how many times does Guiterrez the director want to drive home that point). Gil Bellows is very good as always and the guy who plays Junior is also quite good. Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman are in two of their worst roles. Why the heck are they cast as Louisiana cops anyway? (Emma's ex Kenneth Branagh pulled the Southern cop off in Gingerbread Man a film that I liked a lot and I guess I'm one of the few). I watched it. I wasn't bored, but what an example of lousy writing. Few of the words that come out of the talented casts mouths are believable. Six out of ten and that's being generous. Possible minor spoiler to follow- There's an affair between a 40 year old billionaire and a 60 plus year old woman. Well if I had a billion dollars.....Aw hell, I won't go down that road.