The January Man (1989)
Alan Rickman, Danny Aiello, Harvey Keitel, Kevin Kline, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio ... (see more) , Rod Steiger , Susan Sarandon
It's New Year's Eve and a serial killer stalks the streets of New York, looking for his next victim. Under pressure from the public and the press, Police Commissioner Frank Starkey (Harvey Keitel) and the mayor (Rod Steiger) reinstate Starkey's brother Nick (Kevin Kline) in the force to track down t... (read more) It's New Year's Eve and a serial killer stalks the streets of New York, looking for his next victim. Under pressure from the public and the press, Police Commissioner Frank Starkey (Harvey Keitel) and the mayor (Rod Steiger) reinstate Starkey's brother Nick (Kevin Kline) in the force to track down the murderer. Nick was pressured to resign some years back and bad blood remains between him and his brother; almost immediately he rubs his superior (Danny Aiello) the wrong way when he turns his office into a sort of beatnik den. Flanked by his eccentric buddy (Alan Rickman) and the mayor's daughter (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), Starkey goes about running the killer down his own way. This film is a confused muddle--not funny enough to be a comedy, not suspenseful enough to be a taut cop thriller, and without enough chemistry to be a romantic drama. The excellent cast is adrift in a screenplay that throws in everything but the kitchen sink; Keitel, Steiger, and Aiello go completely apoplectic every time they're onscreen together (which should please fans of over-the-top acting). The first screenplay by John Patrick Shanley after his Oscar win for Moonstruck is hardly cut of the same cloth. --Jerry Renshaw
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R, 97 min.
Directed by:
Pat O'Connor
Release Date: Jan 13, 1989
DVD Release Date: Apr 16, 2002
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Possibly one of the worst films ever made, although it is a shame given the super talented people in the cast. Kevin Kline, Susan Sarandon, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Harvey Keitel, and my personal favorite, Alan Rickman.
The only thing that saved... (read more) Possibly one of the worst films ever made, although it is a shame given the super talented people in the cast. Kevin Kline, Susan Sarandon, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Harvey Keitel, and my personal favorite, Alan Rickman.
The only thing that saved this for me was watching Alan Rickman play the eccentric artist/personal assistant, Ed. Poor Kevin Kline also did his best, but with such horrid writing and a bullshit plot, there isn't much he can do to salvage this movie.
Do not ever waste the hour and a half I wasted watching this movie, unless, like me, you don't really care how crappy it is as long as you get a glimpse of Rickman moving his eyebrows up and down while he delivers terrible writing with as much wit as he can muster.
So 80's - the scene with Kevin Kline and Susan Saradon is amzingly, spectacularily and surprisingly bad. Some very funny moments with Alan Rickman and Kevin Kline.
I tried to like this film. But the lines were unbelievably cheesy, and there were many times when I just rolled my eyes in exasperation. I did enjoy Alan Rickman's and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio's performances, but I'd say that was the only high p... (read more) I tried to like this film. But the lines were unbelievably cheesy, and there were many times when I just rolled my eyes in exasperation. I did enjoy Alan Rickman's and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio's performances, but I'd say that was the only high point of this film.
this had the makings of being a decent "guess who the killer is?" thriller. but i was sadly mistaken. on top of it they made the last 10 minutes of the film a comedy. wtf! overall this movie was ok.
Only saw it for Alan Rickman, but it had a pretty big cast in it. Interesting premise, but overly dramatic. Kevin Kline was great as an eccentric ex-cop! Sarandon's character was way beneath her abilities -- she was nothing more than a token cardboar... (read more) Only saw it for Alan Rickman, but it had a pretty big cast in it. Interesting premise, but overly dramatic. Kevin Kline was great as an eccentric ex-cop! Sarandon's character was way beneath her abilities -- she was nothing more than a token cardboard female character. I'm now that much closer to finishing up with Rickman's cinema career. As always, Rickman got little screen time, but stole every scene!
How AWFUL is this film?! For some reason, I used to like this film when I was younger, probably because I was amused by Rod Steiger and Danny Aiello's astonishingly, cringeworthy over-acting. It has a certain 80s charm I suppose but that is eradicat... (read more) How AWFUL is this film?! For some reason, I used to like this film when I was younger, probably because I was amused by Rod Steiger and Danny Aiello's astonishingly, cringeworthy over-acting. It has a certain 80s charm I suppose but that is eradicated by a ridiculous story, ridiculous characters and incompetent direction by Pat O Connor. Such a great cast wasted on a pointless story. And this film contains, without doubt, Alan Rickman's worst performance EVER. From Die Hard to this?! What happened, Alan?
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