Best Seller

James Woods plays a good sleazy seedy scumbag, Brian Dennehy plays a good fat guy.

65.

Great acting by Woods and Dennehy in what is yet another Larry Cohen film that dares me to like it more than I should. There's something Mr. Cohen adds to all his films that elevates them slightly above the ordinary. So far, everything he's written or directed has been worth the watch time but 'Best Seller' is so far my least favourite.

Not as good as I had remembered. Dennehy is, as he almost always is, eminently likeable in this. And Woods isn't just playing the professional psychopath, his character is filled out with an insecure desperation that makes his outrageous character seem more real. The film is very much elevated by the performances of the leads, but the viewer has an INCREDIBLE number of cliches to wade through on the way, and a lot of bad 80's synth.

So many cliches, and so many synths. And the power ballad during the end credits comes out of nowhere. James Woods is decent though, as is Brian Dennehy, another actor who you'll recognise but never actually know what you saw him in.

Dennehy and Woods make for a fun duo, so it's a shame the script is such schlock.

I've been going through John Flynn's filmography and this is another solid addition. It's kind of odd couple / buddy cop film with a twist. Competently directed and oozing 80's style. Dennehy is a good fit, but the film clearly belongs to James Wood who was born to act this kind of suave psychopaths. The character also has enough depth and nuances to keep it interesting. Last third is a bit weaker, but It's still a gem of late 80's action/thriller and 95mins runtime makes it very rewatchable.