Movielogr
Dick Tracy (1990)
Directed by Warren Beatty
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Overview
The comic strip detective finds his life vastly complicated when Breathless Mahoney makes advances towards him while he is trying to battle Big Boy Caprice’s united mob.
Rated PG | Length 105 minutes
Actors
Warren Beatty | Madonna | Al Pacino | Glenne Headly | Charlie Korsmo | Mandy Patinkin | Seymour Cassel | James Keane | Charles Durning | William Forsythe | Dustin Hoffman | James Tolkan | Ed O'Ross | Dick Van Dyke | R.G. Armstrong | Michael J. Pollard | Paul Sorvino | James Caan | Henry Silva | Tom Signorelli | Stig Eldred | Jim Wilkey | Neil Summers | Chuck Hicks | Lawrence Steven Meyers | Tony Epper | Estelle Parsons | Allen Garfield | John Schuck | Charles Fleischer | Mary Woronov | Kathy Bates | Ian Wolfe | Henry Jones | Catherine O'Hara | Robert Beecher | Lew Horn | Michael Donovan O'Donnell | Marvellee Cariaga | Michael Gallup | Robert Costanzo | Jack Kehoe | Marshall Bell | Mike Hagerty | Arthur Malet | Jack Goode Jr. | Ray Stoddard | Hamilton Camp | Ed McCready | Colm Meaney | Bert Remsen | Frank Campanella | Sharmagne Leland-St. John | Bing Russell | Tom Finnegan | Billy Clevenger | Ned Claflin | John Moschitta Jr. | Neil Ross | Walker Edmiston | Mike Mazurki | Rita Bland | Lada Boder | Dee Hengstler | Liz Imperio | Karyne Ortega | Karen Russell | Michelle Johnston | Tamara Carrera | Bernie Jones | Sheila Lussier | Bruce Mahler | Jerry St. John
Viewing History (seen 1 time)
| Date Viewed | Device | Format | Source | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/24/2020 | TV | DVD | Library | 7 stars |
| (Average) 7 stars |
Viewing Notes
The 30th anniversary just passed for this movie (June 17, 1990) and all the tweets sharing images and general praise had me itching to see this movie. I haven’t seen it since the mid 90s when I rented it on VHS so I requested it from the library that recently re-opened for carryout pickups during the pandemic. I didn’t recall very much from it only that I didn’t care for it much but I did remember the mystery reveal.
I’m pleased to report that this is a very entertaining movie! Yes, all those wild screencaps are what sold me on this revisit but this really is a super stylized and beautiful film imbued with that stark primary color palette seen in the comic strip. It’s as if a giallo was redone as a goofy gangster flick. I know Warren Beatty owns the rights to the property, which is why nothing hasn’t been done since this film, but he does direct the hell out of this even if his Tracy character doesn’t translate so well to film (would’ve preferred a more chiseled and hearty actor that in role).
The standouts are all the actors/characters he surrounds himself with throughout the movie. And even with all the prosthetics most of these actors shine like Al Pacino. Madonna really is perfectly cast here. She looks amazing altho it was a bit uncomfortable to be on the receiving end of so much abuse. Even tho Glenne Headly (RIP) gets a thankless role as Tracy’s girlfriend she’s really great.
Of course back in the 90s I wouldn’t have known so many of these supporting actors like Henry Silva or William Forsythe but it was nice to immediately recognize them here even under all that makeup. Several years back I found myself outside the Crown Plaza during Flashback Weekend standing next to William Forsythe. I would have totally asked him about being in this film had I known at the time. Then there’s blink and you’ll miss ‘em cameos by Mary Woronov and Kathy Bates among others. Fun stuff.
Haven’t checked but I’d hope this as at least gotten a decent Blu release (my library only had the DVD). I would totally own this as it is totally my kind of weird. I know this was already in production when Batman ‘89 had been released but it’s obvious they were trying to go for the same thing even aping the score (Danny Elfman mimicked a lot of what he did for Batman here). However, who was the audience for this? Batman makes sense but Dick Tracy? It’s not really a kid’s flick (it’s so violent!) despite all the movie tie-in promotions. And were adults really clamoring for this comic strip adaptation? The entire production seems misguided and really a passion project by Beatty. That said, I’m glad this thing happened. I’d actually like to see a cut of this movie without all the wild makeup on the characters; let’s just see these great actors act esp. Pacino.
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