UnowPriceless hyped garbage

Micransix Crappy film

Aedonerre I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.

Kaydan Christian A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

jasonisageek My little town is notoriously skimpy when it comes to good VHS finds at our local thrift stores. Most of the time, there just aren't any good finds, which is pretty sad. But every once in a while, I'll come across one that I think will be halfway decent, only to discover that it's so much better than I anticipated. These are the kinds of film experiences I thrive on, that I live for, and Best Seller was that kind of experience, a film that just took me completely by surprise. I've always loved the cover, it's a nice reminder of when actors actually showed up to take a photo for a movie poster, as opposed to the photoshop messes we get today. It's a cool image for sure, but the film still could have gone either way. Luckily, it ended up being awesome for all the right reasons.Cleve (James Woods) is a hit-man who reaches out to Dennis (Brian Dennehy), a cop and author, with an idea for a new book, the story of Cleve and his life as a hit-man. Dennis, skeptical and weary from the beginning, and Cleve travel the country gathering evidence and facts for the book, all the while a powerful former client of Cleve's will stop at nothing to prevent it from ever seeing the light of day.The Good: Powerhouse performances. First and foremost, the film is only as strong as it is for 2 important reasons; James Woods and Brian Dennehy. It's as if this film, and better yet the script, was specifically written with them in mind. They're just fantastic in this, both bringing their very unique brand of tough-guy machismo to their roles. It's perfect casting if there ever was such a thing.Mid 80's grittiness brought to life. John Flynn's impeccable direction serves the film extremely well, and after seeing this, it's no surprise he would follow this up with films like Stallone's Lock Up and Seagal's Out for Justice. His particular brand of gritty gives the film an overall sense of dread and bravado, almost as if the film's style serves as another character of the film. Even watching this in full frame on VHS didn't take away from it's visual impact.Razor sharp intensity. Genre writer/director Larry Cohen (Maniac Cop, Q: The Winged Serpent, It's Alive) writes the film as he's writing a hard-boiled detective novel. It's a detective story in a sense, but a different one altogether. Instead of a cop investigating a series of crimes or murders, you have a cop/author who's investigating a supposed hit-man and his past deeds to basically call bullshit to his claims of high profile murders, yet Cohen plots the film in such a way that it feels like you're watching an old school detective thriller about a cop tracking down a serial killer. It's brilliant and intensely effective.The score packs a punch. Jay Ferguson delivers one helluva brilliant synth score for a film who's score would normally be the last thing you would notice. But much like John Flynn's direction, Ferguson's score serves as yet another character to the film, giving it a moody atmosphere that screams 80's synth, but in the best possible way. I loved it so much in fact that I immediately set out to try and track it down, only to discover that it may never have even gotten an official release as a soundtrack. I could be wrong though, and if I am, please feel free to correct me. I need this soundtrack in my life, because it's that good. HELP!The Bad: There is no bad. Much like my experience watching Shoot to Kill, this is another solid example of the perfect 80's thriller. I didn't find a single thing I would change with this film. Every single aspect, from the direction, the script, the performances, the action, the score, were all essential in creating a truly riveting film experience with an insatiably satisfying climax.robot GEEK'S Cult Cinema

videorama-759-859391 I love films with different ideas or an interesting title to boot. Best Seller has both that, although Wood's kill count does get a bit annoying, or is too much. If you can remember Dennehy and Woods worked on another film years earlier, Split Image. Both fine actors, real good friends off set, work well together, yet in this cop tale with an almost unique spin put on it for it's time, here they're enemies who do slowly become friends, of course Dennehy taking longer time to warm up to Woods. Cleve (Woods, great as usual) was was involved in a police heist, where Dennehy's partner, was killed. Cut several years later, Dennis (Dennehy) now an ex cop, who's also a novelist, is approached by Cleve, who wants revenge, against the guys who screwed him. He asks Dennis to work with him, giving him his people on a platter while also giving him heaps info, for him to write a book on him and the baddies. Dennehy, also grasping an opportunity to gain revenge. It's no holds barred, Woods, even pestered by Dennehy to meet his parents. As you know, to write non fiction, a lot of research is involved. Somehow, I found this movie, utterly enjoyable from beginning to end, on the account it's different, although I enjoyed Wood's other film at the time, Cop, more. They're are some unpredictabilities in the characters, which I found engrossing, with an end I found tragic, on Woods's behalf. Wood's character especially, is a dangerous guy you don't underestimate, as you really don't know what this dude's capable of. And as I'll reiterate, Wood's excessive use of violence by gun, kind of spoils it. It was fun, watching Cleve itching to know or being suggestive of how the books going, it's overused title, a bit of a let down. One scene that really didn't make sense, was Woods barging into Dennehy's agents bedroom, and tearing up her wardrobe, getting fresh and dangerous with her. Check out the fitting song too. It's not bad. Watch Cop, then this.

Scarecrow-88 A veteran cop(Brian Dennehy), who narrowly escaped a hold up shootout in '72, tired and worn down(the loss of his wife to cancer especially draining, not to mention debts because of her long term sickness)after years of undercover work, also a notable best-selling author, is visited by a hit-man(James Woods)who has quite a history he wishes to reveal for a novel as revenge for his dismissal. A powerful corporate businessman had Cleve(Woods) on his payroll removing anyone who stood in his way towards amassing an empire and power.The idea of a cop and criminal joining forces certainly intrigued me which is why I got hooked by the premise. Planted in my mind was how trustworthy could a man such as Cleve be. He's been a hired killer for a considerable amount of time, and, thanks to a supposed falling out with the boss, all of a sudden he wants this cop to write a best seller about their notorious "business relationship". Cleve spends time trying to convince Dennehy' cynical cop, Dennis Meecham, that he's a legitimate killer for Madlock(Paul Shenar)..of course, Dennis has a right to be skeptical. When cigarette burns and a knife wound reveal Cleve as the man who shot him in '72, Dennis decides to punch him in the chops a few times before writing the novel. This will be the chance to stare into the abyss, and pen the memoir of a bonafide assassin.Woods and Dennehy are quite a pair and could make any material worthwhile, and we have a chance to see the complex relationship of two men on opposite sides of the law, no matter how unrealistic such a story might seem. Woods is at times scary and charismatic, and we see his dark side emerge on more than one occasion(such as the scene where he visits Dennis' publisher), particularly when he's at what he does best, killing..and he does so unflinchingly, without batting an eye. As is often the case, Dennis' daughter Holly(Allison Balson) is pulled into the whole mess, her life in possible danger.What's interesting to me is how Cleve so desires for his image to be portrayed differently, not as a cold blooded murder-for-hire, but as a hero. He may just get the chance when Madlock kidnaps Dennis' daughter in order for the novel to be "put out of commission". I think Woods is so electrifying that the movie, even if it has flaws, is worth seeing for him alone. Dennehy is just fine as the honest cop with a true moral code, who often conflicts with Woods' abrasive methods. I dug their friction and eventual, if maybe a bit illogical, friendship. This partnership truly, I think, adds a compelling ingredient to BEST SELLER because of the unusual alliance of such totally different people, with completely opposite ideals. Truly bizarre is the scene where Dennis meets Cleve's family. It ends as expected, with Madlock offering to return Holly in exchange for his name not being muddied by a scandalous book, with Cleve bound and determined to kill his former employer once and for all. As I had mentioned before, when Cleve confronts Dennis' publisher, we see two sides to him, how convincing he can be in order to make an impression, and his passion in the way he's viewed in the novel(he was initially in the house to secure Dennis' manuscript, but decides to leave the publisher with a little reminder of why he's the best at his job, the teary-eyed mascara and torn dresses from her closet are more than enough for lasting impact as to his seriousness regarding how the novel relates him to the readers).

blanche-2 1987's "Best Seller" is not my type of movie, I'll say up front, as it's a little too violent. I do like Larry Cohen, who wrote the script, and the casting of Brian Dennehy and James Woods is great. Woods plays an assassin for hire who approaches cop/author Dennehy about doing an expose about his work for a new book. He claims to have been in the pay of a corporate mogul (Paul Shenar) with a gleaming public image, so the material is explosive. The only problem is, is Woods for real or a whack job? Dennehy seeks to find out.This was one of Paul Shenar's last films. Shenar, a handsome man with a magnificent voice, died of complications due to AIDS in 1989. His role in this film is, alas, too small.This isn't a big film, but if you can stand the blood and violence, you'll enjoy it, as it's a good cast.