Interestingly, hit men connects these two films. In the first, John Cusack is one, in the second, he gets to know one.
The first features death by television. I found that really funny.
I've talked quite a bit about both films before, but when you're had a tiring weekend of unsettling news and trips backwards and forwards to hospital, these two are a good tonic.
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| The delightful Minnie Driver, who's an asset to anything she appears in |
In Woody Allen and his friend Douglas McGrath's screenplay, a playwright compromises his work to such an extent that he agrees to cast a completely talentless actor to secure funding, and then realises her gangster minder is a much better writer than he is. Woody never had to compromise his work - he always secured the money without any strings - the investor didn't usually know anything about the project. This is one of Jean Doumanian's funded films, a producer who seemed very friendly to Woody but then refused to pay him the money he owed. Woody had to sue him and eventually recovered some of the missing money, but..
Woody told us in his memoir that John Cusack is another actor who is incapable of giving an untrue performance.
"And did you notice the way the audience applauded your exit? It'll go even better next time..."
The longest take is three minutes, where Cusack and Palminteri are finding out about each other. It's also a gorgeous looking film.
Diane Weist is so good. The cast is excellent: with Chazz Palminteri are Jennifer Tilly, Mary Louise-Parker, Jack Warden, Joe Viterelli, Rob Reiner, Tracey Ullman, Jim Broadbent, Harvey Fierstein, Edie Falco, Debi Mazar, Tony Sirico.
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