On D List of Movie Reviews

(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)

---

Dead Simple (2001)

Rate: 7
Viewed: 5/20

5/20: Why is the film called Viva Las Nowhere when I was searching for Dead Simple on the Internet?

It's so stupid. Anyway, I like the movie that's of the "why the hell not?" sort. What works the best is the one-crazy-thing-leads-to-another plot. Also, the performances are strong. Funnily enough, Dead Simple was shot on location in Calgary, not Kansas. Unfortunately, the filmmakers made a poor decision by using an inferior camera that had a hard time capturing fast movements.

Daniel Stern plays a dumb, corny character named Frank Jacobs, but as long as his acting is top-notch, he's enjoyable to watch. The most shocking moment has to be Frank accidentally throwing the radio in the bathtub, killing two people. As Helen, Patricia Richardson might be nails on a chalkboard, but she's not bad as her twin sister Wanda.

James Caan surprised me in two ways: his super-long hair à la Willie Nelson and the blob transformation of his body that used to be in football shape. As usual, his acting is flawless. For a short time, Lacey Kohl steals some of the thunder while Sherry Stringfield is fair.

Believe it or not, there are two geographical centers in the United States. If we consider only the contiguous 48 states, it's located approximately 2.6 miles northwest of Lebanon, Kansas. After the admission of Hawaii and Alaska as the final two states, the true geographical center was shifted to approximately 20 miles north of Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Either way, who cares?

All in all, Dead Simple is a well-made black comedy with a slight touch of neo-noir.

---