Michael Caine, a mild-mannered successful businessman, is passed over for a big promotion that goes to a younger man (Peter Riegert). While waiting for the subway one night, a bum bothers him for money. Upset over his job he accidentally pushes the guy onto the tracks in front of an oncoming train killing him completely. Nobody sees him do it and he feels a great sense of power and freedom over getting away with it. Now he decides to go after everybody else who wronged him...
This little gem came out in 1990. I remember it got great reviews and I saw it with a sold-out audience that applauded at the end. Since then it's just disappeared. Why? Probably because it's an intelligent, scary, very black and very funny movie. My guess is that this movie was too dark for most viewers to handle. That's a shame--it's a real good movie.
The direction is great--crooked camera angles are used to convey Caine's state of mind and a great sequence that cross-cuts between a double murder and him with Elizabeth McGovern (an office worker he supposedly falls in love with). The movie is short (about 90 minutes)...just as long as it should be. Caine is superb in his role. You see him slowly turn from a quiet, unassuming man into a ruthless, cunning killer--a really great acting job. McGovern has the unenviable role of "the girl" but pulls it off and her makes her character sympathetic and believable. All the roles are well done by a cast of top character actors.
A very good movie. Here's hoping it someday gets the recognition it deserves.
This little gem came out in 1990. I remember it got great reviews and I saw it with a sold-out audience that applauded at the end. Since then it's just disappeared. Why? Probably because it's an intelligent, scary, very black and very funny movie. My guess is that this movie was too dark for most viewers to handle. That's a shame--it's a real good movie.
The direction is great--crooked camera angles are used to convey Caine's state of mind and a great sequence that cross-cuts between a double murder and him with Elizabeth McGovern (an office worker he supposedly falls in love with). The movie is short (about 90 minutes)...just as long as it should be. Caine is superb in his role. You see him slowly turn from a quiet, unassuming man into a ruthless, cunning killer--a really great acting job. McGovern has the unenviable role of "the girl" but pulls it off and her makes her character sympathetic and believable. All the roles are well done by a cast of top character actors.
A very good movie. Here's hoping it someday gets the recognition it deserves.