Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Director: Shane Black
Year Released: 2005
Rating: 2.0
Hipper-than-you new-wave detective story about a New York thief (Robert Downey Jr.) who ends up in Los Angeles under the impression he's going to be an actor but really has to deal with two murders and a whole lot of baddies - along to help is Val Kilmer, whose character is made a homosexual just to milk it for bad, uninspired jokes. Though looking to something like Pulp Fiction isn't exactly a bad thing, the effort is forced - the dialogue tries too hard to be clever and funny (as if every line has to 'zing') and the snarky voice-over by Downey - and the way his 'narrator' messes with the time frame, 'playing' with the audience - grates. Might play well with the indie set who long for a Thoroughly Modern Marlowe, but I'm not a believer.
