Review of Best Seller

Introduction

Silence of the Lambs is a good film. The whole character dynamic between Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling are undoubtedly what makes the film work. The idea of an earnest FBI agent using the knowledge of one serial killer to catch another is a compelling one. The idea didn`t work straight away though. It had to be test driven a couple of times first. I guess what I`m trying to say is that Best Seller is in a similar vein, albeit dressed up as a low budget eighties thriller. The difference being that this time, it`s a hitman who recruits the aid of a cop/novelist to seek retribution against his former employer.

In 1972, a raid on a police evidence store results in several dead and millions stolen. The only survivor, Dennis Meechum manages to stab the killer before he makes his escape. Meechum writes a novel about the raid and it is instantly a hit. It is the beginning of a glittering writing career that he pursues back to back with his police work. Fifteen years later and Meechum has writers` block. The recent death of his wife has made it difficult for him to meet deadlines and the medical bills have drained his finances. Relying more and more on his police work to support his family, he is approached by an ominous stranger. The man saves his life during a pursuit and insists on meeting him. He introduces himself as Cleve, a professional hitman who has had a long career of murder. Cleve is disillusioned with his former employer, a corporate giant named David Madlock, and desires vengeance. He promises Meechum a stunning expose of the crimes he committed to ensure Madlock`s climb to power. Meechum is initially sceptical, but as Cleve takes him deeper into his sordid past, he gives more credence to his claims. As Meechum begins to chronicle Cleve`s story, Madlock decides the book can never be published. But Cleve has one more secret…

Video

Best Seller is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer. The picture is consistently grainy, typical of an eighties movie. The image is a little soft and the colours are muted. This is all particularly evident in the night scenes. There is a little print damage, but nothing substantial. All in all, Best Seller looks like hundreds of other cheap eighties thrillers.

Audio

Languages in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish are all given the DD 2.0 treatment. The dialogue is clear throughout and the otherwise the sound is acceptable. There are no surround bells and whistles, and you wouldn`t expect them of a film like this. The music is far from memorable, all in generic eighties style.

Features

The theatrical trailer (anamorphic), static menus and loads of subtitles abound.

Conclusion

As soon as the first title appeared, I felt a sinking feeling. Cheap and tacky titles usually imply a cheap and tacky movie underneath. What is it with James Woods movies anyway? The guy obviously has talent, and has made a few good films. But he has appeared in so many of these tedious thrillers that it must make for a whole page or two on his filmography.

The performances are, well Brian Dennehy is dependable as always and delivers a solid performance as Meechum. Incidentally, he also appears typecast in these roles and movies. Unfortunately, James Woods is on another planet with his portrayal of Cleve. His hitman is decidedly afflicted with multiple personalities. You don`t know when you`ll see the ominous professional who will kill you as soon as look at you, or the whining, snivelling guy who craves acceptance from Meechum. Either way, Woods hams it up and as a result his character soon becomes tiresome. The dynamic between Woods and Dennehy is quite ridiculous as a result. The rest of the cast is superfluous and I find it hard to actually recall any other performances.

Woods` performance aside, the big problem with this film is its total implausibility. The idea that a policeman, confronted with a self-confessed murderer doesn`t immediately arrest him, but instead uses his story for material gain would worry me and any other member of the public. The fact that he willingly gets drawn into the world of the assassin and even condones his murders is beyond even that. I suppose that`s too much of a reality check when talking about a work of fiction, but the whole premise of good working hand in hand with evil has been done so much better, I speak of Silence of the Lambs of course, that this uninvolving film pales into insignificance. Best Seller by name, Bargain Bucket by nature.