Yes, it's over-the-top. Yes, it's an orgy of sound, bullets, blood, and exploding buildings. Yes, it's got more muscles than sense. But heck, that's why I love it.
"The Long Kiss Goodnight" is a tempest of action, wit, identity crises, maternal love, murderous hate, undying friendship, and let us not forget Samuel L.Jackson's fantastic outfits. Jackson plays Mitch Hennesey, a private eye, who in his own words, has never done a thing right in his life. He's trying to reconnect with his estranged family while busting small-fry criminals in a thankless job. That is until Samantha Caine comes crashing into his life.
You see, Samantha is a girl with a problem -- and her name is Charley. Charley's who Samantha *used* to be, eight years ago; a vengeful, tough-as-nails professional killer who's been buried deep in Samantha's amnesiac psyche until now. Sam has built a life for herself away from Charley and all that she stands for. She has a beautiful home, a loyal if bland fiance, and an adorable daughter. But a freak accident awakens Charley, and Sam grapples with losing who is she to who she used to be.
Worse yet, she *needs* Charley's skills. You see, Charley's old employers are hot on her heels, and they're intent on disposing of this embarrassing relict of the Cold War once and for all. The delicious Craig Bierko plays Timothy, the male version of the femme fatale that's such a staple of action movies. Nasty as he is handsome, as cold-blooded as Charley, Timothy is also damn near unkillable. Don't miss his interrogation scene with Mitch, easily one of the highlights of the picture!
Whoever said Geena Davis wasn't sexy enough to play Charley doesn't have eyes. I'm a straight female, and even I couldn't take my eyes off her. Charley's all business, "bad as I want to be!" persona is not pleased with the baggage Samantha's tied her down with, especially not an eight-year-old named Caitlin. The young Yvonna Zima as Caitlin is that rarity in action films -- a child who actually contributes to the plot! While her lisp got on my nerves, she did look the part -- which becomes important when she meets up with "Daddy Dearest" about half-way through the movie.
This is one of the few moves a female character gets to do more than stand around and scream helplessly. Charley breaks necks, breaks bones, and breaks hearts in a role perhaps too threatening for some viewers. With her impressively buff physique, Charley makes you believe you wouldn't want to meet up with her in a dark alley. Her alter-ego Sam is just as engrossing, and a lot more sympathetic. Sam and Mitch's dialogue is another highlight, and never seems forced or unnatural. And how can you not love a movie with dialogue like this?:
Caitlin: "Mommy, are we gonna die?"
Charley: "No, honey. We're not going to die. They are."
Or:
Agent: "Charley's taken the truck and is headed out of town. I'm hurt pretty badly sir, I think I'm dying. Out."
Timothy: "Continue dying. Out."
I'm not going to give away Mitch's lines; you'll have to see them in the movie. By the way, what are you waiting for? Go rent/beg/borrow/steal "The Long Kiss Goodnight"!
"The Long Kiss Goodnight" is a tempest of action, wit, identity crises, maternal love, murderous hate, undying friendship, and let us not forget Samuel L.Jackson's fantastic outfits. Jackson plays Mitch Hennesey, a private eye, who in his own words, has never done a thing right in his life. He's trying to reconnect with his estranged family while busting small-fry criminals in a thankless job. That is until Samantha Caine comes crashing into his life.
You see, Samantha is a girl with a problem -- and her name is Charley. Charley's who Samantha *used* to be, eight years ago; a vengeful, tough-as-nails professional killer who's been buried deep in Samantha's amnesiac psyche until now. Sam has built a life for herself away from Charley and all that she stands for. She has a beautiful home, a loyal if bland fiance, and an adorable daughter. But a freak accident awakens Charley, and Sam grapples with losing who is she to who she used to be.
Worse yet, she *needs* Charley's skills. You see, Charley's old employers are hot on her heels, and they're intent on disposing of this embarrassing relict of the Cold War once and for all. The delicious Craig Bierko plays Timothy, the male version of the femme fatale that's such a staple of action movies. Nasty as he is handsome, as cold-blooded as Charley, Timothy is also damn near unkillable. Don't miss his interrogation scene with Mitch, easily one of the highlights of the picture!
Whoever said Geena Davis wasn't sexy enough to play Charley doesn't have eyes. I'm a straight female, and even I couldn't take my eyes off her. Charley's all business, "bad as I want to be!" persona is not pleased with the baggage Samantha's tied her down with, especially not an eight-year-old named Caitlin. The young Yvonna Zima as Caitlin is that rarity in action films -- a child who actually contributes to the plot! While her lisp got on my nerves, she did look the part -- which becomes important when she meets up with "Daddy Dearest" about half-way through the movie.
This is one of the few moves a female character gets to do more than stand around and scream helplessly. Charley breaks necks, breaks bones, and breaks hearts in a role perhaps too threatening for some viewers. With her impressively buff physique, Charley makes you believe you wouldn't want to meet up with her in a dark alley. Her alter-ego Sam is just as engrossing, and a lot more sympathetic. Sam and Mitch's dialogue is another highlight, and never seems forced or unnatural. And how can you not love a movie with dialogue like this?:
Caitlin: "Mommy, are we gonna die?"
Charley: "No, honey. We're not going to die. They are."
Or:
Agent: "Charley's taken the truck and is headed out of town. I'm hurt pretty badly sir, I think I'm dying. Out."
Timothy: "Continue dying. Out."
I'm not going to give away Mitch's lines; you'll have to see them in the movie. By the way, what are you waiting for? Go rent/beg/borrow/steal "The Long Kiss Goodnight"!