Released in 1990 and directed by Warren Beatty, "Dick Tracy" is a crime/action/drama based on the comic strip by Chester Gould with Beatty in the eponymous role. Al Pacino and Madonna co-star as Big Boy Caprice and Breathless Mahoney respectively. Glenne Headly is on hand as Tracy's babe, Tess, while Charlie Korsmo plays "Kid," a homeless boy Dick & Tess unofficially adopt.
Gould wrote & drew the strip from 1931-1977 and others have taken over since then, but I've never read it; although I've given it a quick glance in the paper now and then. As such, I'm not the best person to appraise the quality of this movie. But it has a great LOOK, like it's the comic strip come to life. I hear they only used seven colors for the sets, costuming, props and F/X.
The cast is good, even the heavily-panned Madonna, and I did care about Dick & Tess and their relationship, and Kid too, even though he was obnoxious at first. Breathless Mahoney's dancers are one of the highlights; great job on this front.
Unfortunately, the story was only so-so compelling. It amazes me how blockbuster filmmakers will blow all this money to get the "look" of the film perfect and then drop the ball on the most important element – the STORY. That said, it's serviceable and the revelation about The Blank at the end caught me by surprise (aduh).
FINAL SAY: I liked "Dick Tracy" just enough to give it a marginal recommendation due to the highlights noted above. It struck me as a combination of 1984's "The Cotton Club" and 1989's "Batman"; so, if you like those films, you'll probably appreciate this one.
The movie runs 105 minutes and was shot at Universal Studios, Los Angeles.
GRADE: B-
Gould wrote & drew the strip from 1931-1977 and others have taken over since then, but I've never read it; although I've given it a quick glance in the paper now and then. As such, I'm not the best person to appraise the quality of this movie. But it has a great LOOK, like it's the comic strip come to life. I hear they only used seven colors for the sets, costuming, props and F/X.
The cast is good, even the heavily-panned Madonna, and I did care about Dick & Tess and their relationship, and Kid too, even though he was obnoxious at first. Breathless Mahoney's dancers are one of the highlights; great job on this front.
Unfortunately, the story was only so-so compelling. It amazes me how blockbuster filmmakers will blow all this money to get the "look" of the film perfect and then drop the ball on the most important element – the STORY. That said, it's serviceable and the revelation about The Blank at the end caught me by surprise (aduh).
FINAL SAY: I liked "Dick Tracy" just enough to give it a marginal recommendation due to the highlights noted above. It struck me as a combination of 1984's "The Cotton Club" and 1989's "Batman"; so, if you like those films, you'll probably appreciate this one.
The movie runs 105 minutes and was shot at Universal Studios, Los Angeles.
GRADE: B-