On S List of Movie Reviews

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Shoot to Kill (1988)

Rate: 5
Viewed: 9/15

9/15: Sometimes, it takes a wrong director to screw up a potentially good film, and that's what Roger Spottiswoode did with Shoot to Kill.

Sidney Poitier's (who comes back after a ten-year hiatus when he should've stayed retired) and Tom Berenger's acting have never been more horrible. Both are capable of doing better, so it's disappointing to see their abilities be wasted.

Everything seems to go well from the outset with Sidney Poitier's character in pursuit of the killer, but the film begins to fall apart when he's partnered up with Tom Berenger who can only express one emotion: pissed-off anger. Kirstie Alley is wasted as evidenced at the end because there's no wrap-up scene between her character and boyfriend after what they went through. Hardly much care is shown to her situation, either.

A big mistake is the use of slapstick relief, reducing the film's credibility as a serious high mountain policier adventure. So is the early revelation of the killer's identity which isn't hard to figure out. Once it's known, there goes the mystery out of the window. Nevertheless, Shoot to Kill has several interesting moments when it comes to dealing with nature. If fully explored in depth, it'll make the film more interesting like how it was done for Alive and Sorcerer.

All in all, Roger Spottiswoode is an expert in directing mediocre films.

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