Hudson Hawk a Michael Lehman film

[L .B . Jeffries]

Hudson Hawk 1991/color/95min/r/tri star

Director by
Michael Lehman

Cast
Bruce willis/Danny Aiello/Andie MacDowell/Richard E. Grant/Saundra Berhard/Donald Burton/James Coburn

Music by
Michael Karman & Robert Kraft

Cinematography by
Dante Spinoiti

Story by
Bruce Willis & Robert Kraft

Produced by
Joel Silver

If your looking for an off beat comedy well hers your ticket. The acting is good and they have lots of fun with their parts showing no fear in doing something different which is probably why it got very harsh criticism by many people but personally I enjoyed it.

The story is about a cat burglur who has just got out of jail and is forced back into doing his old profession. Along the way he comes across some pretty wacky people and even finds time to fall in love with the Beautiful Andie MacDowell.

Danny Aiello as Bruces partner and best friend gives a great performance as usual. Grant and Bernherd are out of this world lovers and are outragous in every scene. Michael Lehman the director of Hudson Hawk has done other odd ball feature that have some of the formula as this one.

* VHS, LD, DVD the dvd comes with an audio commentary by Michael Lehman

* James Coburn's characters name is George Kaplan this name was used as the fake F.B.I in alfred hitchcocks "North by Northwest."

Maybe this should be in my Favorite Sectret Movies cause I love it.

[Holden Pike]

Hudson Hawk got a bum rap when it was released theatrically in 1991. It's not a great movie, but it is kinda fun and very watchable. The critics ripped it apart as if it was the worst movie of the year. It wasn't. Not even close. This is one of those projects where unfortunately the stories of the film's troubled production and skyrocketing budget colored every single review when it finally hit the screens. I don't really care how much it cost to make, I just judge the movie.

As a movie, it's actually fun and clever. Granted you have to like Bruce Willis in his "Moonlighting" mode, but I always have. And of course all the jokes don't work, some fall flat. But I think there are many more hits than misses in that department. The cast is very strong around Bruce, especially Aiello and Coburn.

Hudson Hawk was obviously a self-conscious pardoy of the late-'80s action pic, and I think it mostly succeeds. It's a damn sight more successful than Schwarzenegger's The Last Action Hero anyway. But if you go back and read some of the 1991 reviews, it's amazing how many critics just didn't get - or chose to ignore - that Hudson Hawk is first and foremost a parody and a farce, intentionally silly and hopefully fun.

For me, it mostly works. I liked in in 1991, I like it even more today. It's far from perfect, and if you do know the behind-the-scenes craziness of the troubled production, it can't help but make you wonder if those rough edges could have been smoothed out and fixed had things gone more to plan. But what IS there is amusing and light and funny and fun.

Hudson Hawk is a notorious bomb finacially and critically, but if anyone has been avoiding it all these years based on that reputation, you really should see it for yourself and judge by how much fun you have. I give it a personal grade of B-.



For anyone who IS curious about the Hell of the production, check out Grant's book With Nails: the film diaries of Richard E. Grant. Not only is there a juicy chapter on Hudson Hawk, but he also discusses his time on Withnal & I, Warlock, Henry & June, L.A. Story, The Player, Bram Stoker's Dracula, The Age of Innocence, and Ready to Wear. In addition to being a good actor, it turns out Grant is a naturally funny guy and writes well. I wish director Lehmann could really give the dirt and talk freely on the DVD's commentary track, but he purposefully holds his tongue. I haven't listend to that track since the DVD first came out a couple years ago, but I believe even he refers those interested to Grant's book, so he must believe it's at least fairly accurate.

[L .B . Jeffries]

I found someone that likes this movie this is great anyway thanks for supporting a movie that I love. Out of the two this one and "Power" I thought I was really goin to get reemed out for like this movie. this is great.

[Sir Toose]

I'm down with it too Jefferies. While I don't have as prolific a review for it as yourself and our Mr. Pike (and you two said it all anyways) I will go on the books as liking this movie. I particularly enjoyed the "romanticizing" of the cat burglar... the moonlight shots, the "swingin' on a star" music... as a package the whole thing just worked.



Oh and Andie McDowell never hurt a picture that she was in either...

[L .B . Jeffries]

Three fans of the Movie this is amazing we could set up a little club just kiddin. I love the "swingin' on a star" it puts a big smile on my face just like your post has. cause I expected people to just laugh at me for liking it so much.

Now that you two guys like it if anyone comes on and disses it out I won't feel any pain cause I know I'm not the only one out there that likes it.

Thanks Toose

[Sir Toose]

The pleasure is mine kind sir. Thank you for the reminiscent topic.