Stiletto Dance (2001 TV Movie) User Reviews

"Warning"......Brutal violence.... Sex ..... and of all things, a story ......

[merklekranz · 6/10 · 10 December 2009]

This is not the usual pole dancing nudity and cartoon violence action picture. There are interesting characters, and a script that is so over the top in believability that it is totally enjoyable. Doublecrosses abound. You get fringe players who work for both the mob and the good guys. There is some sharp humor, especially from the Russian mob boss. Eric Roberts gives a solid performance, with nice support from Romano Orzari and Yaphet Kotto. There are some imaginative twists and turns, and a conclusion that is far from predictable. So, what you wind up with is brutal violence, sex, and of all things, a story. Recommended of it's type. - MERK

HBO Tarantino Wannabe

[Theo Robertson · 4/10 · 5 March 2003]

This thriller has Tarantino`s forged signature written all over it . It starts with a funky monologue which instantly revives memories of Tim Roth in a certain film . Add to this a shock revelation of a couple of villains who aren`t who they appear to be , some novelty violence involving a jealous wife and a coffee grinder , a running joke about a suit being ruined and the bizarre site of a member of the clergy tooled up . I was expecting someone to come out with a line about " I`m stuck in the middle with you " and the homage would have been complete .

The other thing that struck me was this could only have been a HBO production . I didn`t know this at the time but later finding out it was made sense . Have you ever noticed watching an episode of OZ there always seems to be a sudden upsurge of profane dialogue in the slower episodes ? It`s almost as if the producers of the show have got round a table with the writers and said " Okay we`re pretty low on shankings and gang rapes this week so can you make sure the F word appears at least three times in every sentence just to indicate it`s an adult show " . Well in STILETTO DANCE when people aren`t getting blown away or getting limbs chopped off the characters often seem to revert to ridiculous amounts of swearing . I can`t really emphasise how false the dialogue sounds in these scenes , especially the bit where the police captain is explaining the plot to the two good guys in the car park .

One final comment . I know Eric Roberts career is now a bit of a joke starring in cable and straight to video films such as this , but he really does deserve much better and I look forward to seeing him play a memorable screen villain in a blockbuster someday

Substandard even for action flicks

[=G= · 4/10 · 28 July 2002]

"Stiletto Dance" is all about Roberts as a deep cover cop who's inclined to go so "deep" even his own partner doesn't trust him. His mission is to stop Russian mob heavies from getting some red mercury which they need to make a nuclear bomb to nuke Americans. The film features the usual sensationalism (babes, shootouts, blood & guts, brawls, etc.) but fails to distinguish itself even in the B-movie category. Ultimately it plays out like a bad Seagal or Van Damme flick. Only for the most macho-minded couch potatoes. (D+)

Not bad

[Wizard-8 · 18 March 2002]

Though I found the story of this movie to not be so original, it at least was competently told and paced, which automatically makes this effort better than many made-for-video movies. And even though it was low budget, the production values were quite good. The best thing about the movie was the performances, particularly Eric Roberts, who really gets to prove here he is a really good actor, unlike the usual junk he's unfortunately saddled with. Just don't expect a fast-paced rat-tat-tat actioner, and this movie will be satisfying.

I was the only one NOT blown away!

[MCL1150 · 1/10 · 23 March 2006]

Poor Buffalo, New York! All the snow they get there and then a movie like this blows into town too. And when I say blows, I mean BA-LOWS! The best parts of this one belong to the stunning Russian babe. Without her soft-core porn scenes to keep your eyes peeled for there'd be no reason to tune in in the first place. Not unless you have a sick affinity for a violently aggregated body count that would make Tarantino blush! The bloodbath finale is so painful to watch that you end up hoping a stray dum-dum passes through your TV screen straight into your brain! I mean, they actually stage the scene in an all white room just so the blood will show up better when splattered on the walls! Well that's the ten line minimum that the IMDb forces upon reviewers. Yep, ten lines just to say "It Stinks!"

Flesh and Blood

[wes-connors · 4/10 · 1 August 2008]

Undercover New York police officers Eric Roberts (as Kit Adrian) and Romano Orzari (as Jay Flowers) go up against a ruthless Russian mafia, pretending to work for bleached-blond crime lord Shawn Doyle (as Anton Seaberg). Mr. Roberts invites even more danger by sleeping with the enemy's estranged wife, luscious Lucie Laurier (as Lena). This film's obvious intent is to bring female flesh and human blood to the home box office crowd, without resorting to anything hard-core. The female flesh is real, and the human blood is fake. On a cheap blood and guts level, "Stiletto Dance" is successful. Mr. Orzari and Yaphet Kotto (as Captain Sands) provide star Roberts with solid support. But, it's really Mr. Doyle's characterization of the temperamental bad guy, who keeps it moving.

**** Stiletto Dance (6/8/01) Mario Azzopardi ~ Eric Roberts, Shawn Doyle, Romano Orzari, Lucie Laurier

Sickeningly stupid

[Polonius85 · 1/10 · 14 July 2005]

This movie was perverted, overly violent, and horribly acted. I can hardly consider it a B- movie. You couldn't help but hate the two so-called "good guys" about as much as you hated the "bad guys." The entire time Eric Roberts' character was taking part in all the crimes and murders alongside the mobsters, sleeping with countless women, and you even find out that he killed his former partner and it really is not explained why other than "he was in the way." Plus, the storyline is dark, depressing, and grimy and it contains a sex scene worthy of HBO late night. The only good part of the movie was the ending, and I mean the ENDING like when the credits were all done. If you ever see it on TV, turn it off immediately before you want to kill yourself.

A cut above the usual cable flick

[smatysia · 7/10 · 7 June 2006]

Much better than I expected from a made-for-cable movie. Eric Roberts apparently can too act! Who knew? The plot is OK, and the direction is unobtrusive. Shawn Doyle plays the Russian baddie with flair. You might think he's taking it a bit over-the-top. But from what I hear, you really cannot caricature these Russki mafiosi as any more violent, evil jerks than they actually are. Canadian actress Lucie Laurier was stunningly beautiful, and totally nailed her part. As a bonus, Laurier and Doyle both did their accents pretty well, not overdoing them too much, but never getting caught out of them. Maybe not Streepian, but good. And the ending, well. There was the perfect opportunity for a standard sort of Hollywood ending, and the filmmakers took a pass on it. That's worth something all by itself. I'd say check it out if you can stand the gruesome violence.

Ohhhhhh Boyyyyyyyyyy

[pillskins · 1/10 · 10 April 2007]

OK, first of all. I was searching through all of Eric Roberts movies..wait! Let me finish!....to find out who the Spanish chick was in this movie. (the wife of the badass guy). I finally found out who it was and thank god i did because if i had to look at another terrible movie starring Julia Roberts brother, i was gonna pass out. As you probably already know, this movie is terrible. I mean, its such a joke and basically a spoof off a good crime/action flick. ITs laughable. Why is that no Eric Roberts movie on here has gotten more than an avg. vote of 6? Why is is that almost every movie he does has 3.3 avg? Well, its because Eric Roberts is made out of garbage. No, seriously, he drips empty soda cans and banana peels from his pockets because he literally is garbage. How many c- action flicks is the guy gonna make with the same premise? He's a rebel who still is mainly good inside but he gets in too deep and along the way gets to f**k insanely hot chicks. Why? Because he gets them cast in the movie for himself. How else do you explain all his movies having insanley attractive ladies? He knows his movies are jokes so he figures he might as well have some fun in the middle of making something terrible, which is every movie in which he was the star. If you haven't figured it out by now, i hate Eric Roberts. The guy has no talent, he's a piece of trash and he has never been on the set of a movie worth watching. Richard Grieco thinks this guy is washed up.

Decent movie.

[wgtomlinson · 7/10 · 28 March 2005]

I could go into detail but why since there are already over 8 reviews. The main point here is this: the "love interest" of Eric Roberts, I think her name was Melani (the Russsian). That is the most beautiful female actress I've seen in a long time. I looked on IMDb about here and she has done a few Hollywood movies but mostly foreign. What a goddess! Figures most U. S. film makers pass her over in favor of waif looking types like Gwynth Paltrow or others. It is funny how movies in the B category can be so amusing and maybe more entertaining then mainstream movies with their audience tested material aimed at real big sized homogeneous audiences. some of them lose me. Not this one.

"You don't trust Anton?"

[thehockeyczar · 9/10 · 29 June 2001]

Stiletto Dance was a made for HBO movie. HBO is known for its fine and large collection of self-made movies such as: "Rasputin" and "Hostile Waters". This film, while maybe not Oscar material, is a highly entertaining film none the less. The film centers around the Russian mafia of Buffalo, NY. The boss Anton, played by Shawn Doyle,is the most intriguing and entertaining character. This film was my first experience with Doyle, who delievers a marvelous performance. He gives Anton a powerful and dangerous, yet elegant and wildly entertaining personality. Anton's rants are early and often, and provide some of the most amusing elements of the film. Doyle (Anton) makes the littlest actions seem essential, for without him the film wouldn't be nearly as good. Anton is crazy yet calculated in his actions planning to sell a nuclear device to the Albanians for $100 Million. The film leads up to this after showing various examples of "heavy work". Anton plays the field making deals with rival organizations only to later break any and all ties. "You don't trust Anton?" The film also featured Eric Roberts, as the seasoned undercover veteran. Roberts actually does a good job with the role. Bringing together various factors to create a complex and multi-dimensional character. He is a healthy blend of a dedicated officer combined with a more evil, diabolical side. The film plays host to a wide range of action. It offers a more refreshing plot line than similar films. Overall, you will be entertained and amused by this film. Doyle's performance more than warrents a viewing by itself. 3 out of 4 stars.

Eric Roberts should do more movies like this!!!

[nixxie9 · 7/10 · 11 March 2005]

Eric Roberts was sexy, nasty, hot, and just plain bad ASS (in a good way) in this movie. He looked buffed and I couldn't stop thinking about him as this character and ....I guess I still do think about him in this role because it fit him. The movie itself was not great but I couldn't take my eyes off Mr. Roberts. The only thing I've seen him in lately is the TV Show Sitcom "Less Than Perfect" and then on some game show. He is like so yeeesh nerdy and not hot at all that when I saw him do the action cop thing in Stilleto I couldn't believe it was the same guy!!!! Please Eric don't ignore your niche! You could be "A list" with more roles that show you doing all that physical stuff. You got the bod and the moves, the face and the acting talent, go for it man!!!!!

Not a bad movie

[w0aq · 12 August 2003]

I like Eric Roberts and found this DVD on eBay cheap so I figured I would give it a try.

This is a violent movie - so, not for everyone. But, it is well-acted enough for my tastes and the story never lost my interest. The villan (Anton) is easy to hate. Eric Roberts character is easy to like but he's rough around the edges.

The action is not predictable - at least it wasn't for me, and that makes watching fun.

It's no blockbuster epic but it is worth watching. Without Eric Roberts this would not be as good but with him, it's kicked up a notch.

(Eric) Roberts Rules!

[tarbosh22000 · 7/10 · 12 May 2010]

We all know the truth: Eric Roberts is Awesome! Come on, admit it. I'm a big fan of the man. Julia sucks. Eric is better.

"Stiletto Dance" is about a cop named Kit Adrian (Roberts) who infiltrates the Russian mob, only to be swept up in a deadly love triangle with Lena (Lucie Laurier) and his partner.

The movie is a lot of fun. It has everything: pervasive swearing, brutal Russian mob violence and a cool performance from the master of Ham: Eric Roberts! Yaphet Kotto makes an appearance as the chief of police. His role is made up of exposition, but he puts in his usual professionalism.

I will be reviewing more Eric Roberts masterpieces in the future.

For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

A surprisingly interesting film with an unexpected ending.

[isenberg-e · 8/10 · 30 June 2001]

I've always had a secret appreciation for Eric Roberts films. I think he's an underrated actor, able to do a good job if the script lets him. I also compliment him on being able to pick films that combine his macho action style with intriguing plots and relatively thorough (for the genre) characterization. "Stiletto Dance" is a good example. The story seems at first very simple, but nothing is as it appears. The plot continues to evolve in more complicated ways, but never loses the viewer. There's a romantic sub-plot that makes sense instead of just being an excuse for nudity. The main characters are filled out with motivations and nuances that make them interesting to watch. The film has a basic question to it: "How far can... and should... a police officer go to stop a crime or capture a criminal?" In my opinion, the best thing about the film is that it raises this old question in a very different manner, and leads one to a different conclusion than might have been expected.

Intriguing twists to the standard undercover story

[g_travan · 8/10 · 18 April 2006]

Eric Roberts shows some of his native flair in this film. Lost of gruesome violence, but not senseless like in Tarantino movies. There's a wide range of fascinating characters, even some who make but brief appearances. An intelligent and sensitive look at the criminal world, with no rosy lenses nor ridiculous glorification. No miraculous or clever ploys to excuse the protagonist from partaking of the brutality that surrounds him.

For a low-rent HBO crime movie, this film was astonishingly good. It's refreshing to see someone breathe life into what could have been a trite cliché. The director Mario Azzopardi exhudes such cinematic genius. It is a shame he hasn't worked on more films.

Some Fun Generecism (very vague spoiler)

[Nick_Dets · 2 July 2003]

Generic soda is hardly any different from the mainstream products. For example, Wegmans' Dr. W is exactly the same as Dr. Pepper, only at a much more decreased price. I'm not stingy, but generecism can be a good thing. This thought can apply to the film industry as well. Look at anything an actor named Bryan Genesse has done. His work is all mostly bland and unoriginal, but his films provide some fun low budget entertainment. He is the perfect example of a Hollywood generecist.

Now lets take a look at Eric Roberts. He has a high profile sibling, but this adjective does not apply to his career. God bless him. His sister is winning oscars and he makes little gems like 1996's "The Grave" for example. How his career ever became this way, it's hard to piece together, but his work is worth making an analogy with my soda sermon.

This film, "Stiletto Dance" isn't a bad one. Possibly made before "Fast and Furious", a story with a same vital plot turn, the movie does bare a merciful comparison. There are some fine women, fast-paced urban action and surprisingly great acting. There are some delightfully colorful characters, notably one named Binky and the lead villain.

It is nowhere near perfect though. This is a movie that floats and lacks any grounding whatsoever, it heavily relies on some plot turns to keep it interesting. This is a problem, because the twist ending doesn't work and it seems written in at the last minute for some cheap thrills. It is manipulative, but that's not saying there some pretty good other twists along the way however.