I have never really liked this movie. Its not that it's a hard edged thriller, its nasty. The treatment of the women in the cast exposes a vein of misogyny, surprising even for an 80's movie.
As far as definitive private eye movies are concerned it misses the mark, but I don't think the filmmakers were bothered with the ingredients that make the best in the genre.
Armand Assante as Mike Hammer probably does catch a vibe from Mickey Spillane's novels, but I don't think Mike Hammer was ever the best of the fictional private eyes or cops.
The thing Hammer lacks, which the best in the business have is empathy. The definitive detective for my money is Bogart's Sam Spade in "The Maltese Falcon". He's tough, he's been around and seen it all, but he understands the human condition: he'll hunt you down, however he has sympathy. Mitchum's Philip Marlowe had that quality, Tom Selleck's Jesse Stone had it and oddly enough Stacy Keach in the Mike Hammer TV series had it, although I don't think he is that true to Spillane's classic Hammer.
The other kind of detective is the single minded, vengeful type. That's where I think Assante's reading of Mike Hammer resides. However his interpretation is masterly compared to Bill Elliott's obtuse performance in the 1953 version.
The underlying plot is not that different to "The Maltese Falcon". Like Spade's partner Miles, Hammer's one-armed buddy is murdered and he goes after the culprit. Both perpetrators turn out to be women.
To compensate for lack of deep characterisation, the filmmakers thought instead of having one car chase, have three. Throw in a megalomaniacal, ex-military mastermind, then top it off with explosions and plenty of sex where just about every woman in the cast is humiliated in one way or another, and it's a wrap.
Barbara Carrera plays Dr Charlotte Bennett who runs sex therapy sessions at her clinic that seem like outtakes from 1979's "Caligula". Apparently Angie Dickinson was the first choice for the role, but I think she would have balked at what Barbara ended up providing.
What a fascinating person Barbara Carrera was and still is. Head-turningly beautiful, and still striking in her mid 70's she is now a successful painter.
"I, The Jury" is well enough made, but it's repetitious and even distasteful. Give me Bogie and the "Falcon" any day.
As far as definitive private eye movies are concerned it misses the mark, but I don't think the filmmakers were bothered with the ingredients that make the best in the genre.
Armand Assante as Mike Hammer probably does catch a vibe from Mickey Spillane's novels, but I don't think Mike Hammer was ever the best of the fictional private eyes or cops.
The thing Hammer lacks, which the best in the business have is empathy. The definitive detective for my money is Bogart's Sam Spade in "The Maltese Falcon". He's tough, he's been around and seen it all, but he understands the human condition: he'll hunt you down, however he has sympathy. Mitchum's Philip Marlowe had that quality, Tom Selleck's Jesse Stone had it and oddly enough Stacy Keach in the Mike Hammer TV series had it, although I don't think he is that true to Spillane's classic Hammer.
The other kind of detective is the single minded, vengeful type. That's where I think Assante's reading of Mike Hammer resides. However his interpretation is masterly compared to Bill Elliott's obtuse performance in the 1953 version.
The underlying plot is not that different to "The Maltese Falcon". Like Spade's partner Miles, Hammer's one-armed buddy is murdered and he goes after the culprit. Both perpetrators turn out to be women.
To compensate for lack of deep characterisation, the filmmakers thought instead of having one car chase, have three. Throw in a megalomaniacal, ex-military mastermind, then top it off with explosions and plenty of sex where just about every woman in the cast is humiliated in one way or another, and it's a wrap.
Barbara Carrera plays Dr Charlotte Bennett who runs sex therapy sessions at her clinic that seem like outtakes from 1979's "Caligula". Apparently Angie Dickinson was the first choice for the role, but I think she would have balked at what Barbara ended up providing.
What a fascinating person Barbara Carrera was and still is. Head-turningly beautiful, and still striking in her mid 70's she is now a successful painter.
"I, The Jury" is well enough made, but it's repetitious and even distasteful. Give me Bogie and the "Falcon" any day.