Thursday, January 10, 2008

The Long Kiss Goodnight

The Long Kiss Goodnight was defiantly something else compared to the other movies we have watched so far. It was absolutely far from being my favorite buddy cop film and to describe it as awful would be an understatement. Probably the only goal it accomplished as a film was that it was funny to watch, although humor was not its intention. With quotes like
Charlie: Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Mitch Henessey: I hope not, 'cause I'm thinking how much my balls hurt.

and…

Caitlin Caine: Mommy, am I gonna die? Charlie: Oh, no, baby, no. You're not going to die. They are. Cover your ears. Hey, should we get a dog?

it’s no wonder why Geena Davis’s career as an actress went quickly down hill after this movie.

Other then it having a horrible script I also don’t think it qualified as a buddy cop film. In the first place Samuel L. Jackson’s character as Mitch Henessey isn’t even a cop, he’s a wanna-be private investigator who schemes people out of money. Geena Davis, who plays both Samantha Caine and Charly Baltimore, is the main character who plays the dominant role in almost every scene. The relationship between Baltimore and Hennessey did not seem equal at all but instead like Henessey was Baltimore’s co-captain.

The use of race and gender in the film was prominent but it seemed to be used in a different way. While Geena Davis is a white woman, she played the toughest character and ultimately is shown as being more “masculine” then the men. Even though Henessey is the tag along I don’t think it was because he was a black man. The emphasis is meant to be on Baltimore no matter who or what the other characters look like.

2 Comments:

Blogger Brad T said...

I think there are a few subtle details that Guerrero and similar writers may find to be suggestive of racial issues. First and foremost is the fact that Hennesey, despite his best efforts, is always overshadowed in terms of masculinity by Caine/Baltimore. Secondly, when Samantha Caine does revert to being Charlie Baltimore, she cuts her hair shorter and dies it blond, giving herself a much more Aryan look. I’m sure this is a point King would not miss if he ever allowed himself to watch enough of this film.

2:28 AM  
Blogger Christina said...

Just because they're not "cops" doesn't make it a buddy cop film? If you really break down the movie, all the components that we listed on the board are technically in this movie. I can see how right off the bat this movie could be disregarded as a buddy cop film, but I think in some twisted was it could fit...

Good point about the Aryan look! I didn't even this about that, with her dying her hair blonde and all. And I just realized that our villains didn't fit the look - they all had brown/black hair. What a weird twist...

7:15 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home