I don't quite understand how John Cassavetes wound up in charge of this burlesque of Wilder & Brackett's classic DOUBLE INDEMNITY. In some ways it feels like a Three Stooges movie directed like von Sternberg -- there's a scene in which Falk is made up to look like Larry Fine. I suppose Falk felt that Bergman wasn't as good a director as a comedy writer and got his pal Cassavetes to fill in, so there would be some money in the estate.
Actually, if you look at this movie carefully, you'll see a lot of classic movie references, scenes shot like THE BIG SLEEP and THE GODFATHER. However, they don't really add much to the fun except for movie geeks like myself.
In this movie, as in THE INLAWS, the real fun is watching Arkin fall apart in the midst of an insane situation, while Peter Falk remains jovially calm. There are no moments of great insanity, like the "Serpentine, Shel" sequence, or dealing with Richard Libertini -- who has a small role in this movie too. Still, unless you go in expecting the earlier movie, you should have a good time.
Actually, if you look at this movie carefully, you'll see a lot of classic movie references, scenes shot like THE BIG SLEEP and THE GODFATHER. However, they don't really add much to the fun except for movie geeks like myself.
In this movie, as in THE INLAWS, the real fun is watching Arkin fall apart in the midst of an insane situation, while Peter Falk remains jovially calm. There are no moments of great insanity, like the "Serpentine, Shel" sequence, or dealing with Richard Libertini -- who has a small role in this movie too. Still, unless you go in expecting the earlier movie, you should have a good time.