Main Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, Corbin Bernsen, Dash Mihok
Release Year: 2005
Country: US
Run Time: 102 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
A thesp-turned-crook gets a chance at career in movies as well as crime scene investigation in this offbeat action comedy with nods to Raymond Chandler. Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) is a struggling New York actor who high-tails it to Los Angeles. Once there, Lockhart winds up at the posh home of the aptly-named homosexual private eye Gay Perry (Val Kilmer) amid a lavish Hollywood party, hoping to score a life-changing role in a Hollywood feature. Harry becomes reacquainted with Harmony (Michelle Monaghan), a girl he had a major crush on in his small-town Indiana high school, who may be a bit more interested in him now than she was years ago. He takes both her and her girlfriend home with him, but - in a moment of drunken stupor - accidentally sleeps with the wrong woman. Meanwhile, when a series of female bodies turns up across L.A., Harry slowly breaks into detective work, mentored by Perry. The biggest twist? Black riffs Adaptation and other films by having Harry (via satirical narration) write the movie while he is living it. Harry assures the audience that unlike Lord of the Rings, this one won't have seventeen endings. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang marks the first directorial credit for Shane Black, who created the Lethal Weapon franchise. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
With his scripts for Lethal Weapon and its first sequel, Shane Black helped to create and arguably perfect the modern action film. After taking nearly a decade off from the screen, he returns with Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, a film that yet again shows that Black understands how to do this kind of material better than almost anyone. Black always remembered that story and character mattered. Action scenes come a dime a dozen, but even a rote chase scene is more suspenseful if the audience cares about the characters. For Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, Black steals from the best -- Raymond Chandler. The murder mystery at the heart of the film matters less than the self-referential games Black and his able cast are playing with the material. In Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer, Black has found two actors capable of maintaining the tricky tone he wants to achieve, a tone that mocks the conventions of the genre he helped popularize while also firmly accepting its place in that genre. The only director who consistently performs to this high a standard with this kind of material is Quentin Tarantino, and while Black lacks Tarantino's visual flair, he can almost match Quentin's gift for story structure. Slick, funny, and very self-aware, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang provides an entertaining experience for those familiar with its antecedents as well as for those who simply enjoy a rousing action comedy. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Larry Miller - Dabney Shaw; Rockmond Dunbar - Mr. Fire; Shannyn Sossamon - Pink Hair Girl; Angela Lindvall - Flicka; Judie Aronson - Gift Bag Girl; Nancy Fish - NY Casting Woman; Vincent Laresca - Aurello; Wiley M. Pickett - Homicide Cop; Josh Richman - Rickie; Cole McKay - Dexter Goon; Joe Keyes - Lobby Cop; Brian Simpson - Dexter Goon; Harrison Young - Harmony's Dad; Martha Hackett - Pistol Woman; Jake McKinnon - Creature; Tanja Reichert - B-Movie Actress; Ben Bray - Dexter Goon; Chrissy Gilman - Protocop; Kathy Lamkin - Woman in Hospital Blues; Saida Rodriguez-Pagan - News Anchor; Evan Parke - Dexter Clinic Guard; Lela Edgar - Party Girl; Indio Falconer Downey - Harry Age 9; Ariel Winter - Harmony Age 7; Duane Carnahan - Chainsaw Kid; Bill McAdams, Jr. - NY Cop; Stephanie Pearson - Teen Harmony; Brendan Fehily - Local News Reporter; David Newsome - Agent Type; Ali Hillis - Marleah; Bobby Tuttle - Hotel Concierge; Jake Eberle - Patrol Cop; Daniel Browning Smith - Rubber Boy; Teresa Herrera - Newswoman
Credit
Erin Cochran - Art Director, Photon VFX - Animator, Jessica Alan - Associate Producer, Kenneth Strain - Boom Operator, Mary Gail Artz - Casting, Barbara Cohen - Casting, Cati Jean - Choreography, Carrie Morrow - Co-producer, Christopher J. Kristoff - Costume Designer, Marco Black - First Assistant Director, Ty Arnold - First Assistant Director, Shane Black - Director, Kurt Bryant - Second Unit Director, Jim Page - Editor, Steve Richards - Executive Producer, Susan Levin - Executive Producer, Francine Shermaine - Hair Styles, Kristi Frankenheimer - Location Manager, John Ottman - Composer (Music Score), Randall Poster - Musical Direction/Supervision, James Kail - Makeup, Ralis Kahn - Makeup Special Effects, Robin Black - Makeup Special Effects, Lee Goyner - Makeup Special Effects, Nelly Recchia - Makeup Special Effects, Cale Thomas - Makeup Special Effects, Paul Babin - Camera Operator, Nathaniel Goodman - Camera Operator, Craig Fikse - Camera Operator, Aaron Osborne - Production Designer, John Aronson - Cinematographer, Michael Barrett - Cinematographer, Joel Silver - Producer, Jason Lasser - Set Designer, Stephen A. Tibbo - Sound Mixer, Randy Hall - Stunts, Michael Haynes - Stunts, Brett Jones - Stunts, Denney Pierce - Stunts, Rick Avery - Stunts, Chuck Borden - Stunts, Tom Dewier - Stunts, Frank Lloyd - Stunts, Ray Lykins - Stunts, Patrick Statham - Stunts, Tom Harper - Stunts, Robin Bonaccorsi - Stunts, Eddie Conna - Stunts, Irving Lewis - Stunts, Garrett Warren - Stunts, Al Jones - Stunts, Joe Bucaro III - Stunts, Brian Christensen - Stunts, Michael Owen - Stunts, Tim Walkey - Stunts, Azalea Davila - Stunts, Brian Machleit - Stunts, Ted Barba - Stunts, Ivan Bates - Stunts, Brandy Bourdeaux - Stunts, Annie Chasse - Stunts, Deanna Dozier - Stunts, Nicola Hindshaw - Stunts, Carl Milinac - Stunts, J.P. Ruggerio - Stunts, Mike Sarna - Stunts, Kurt Bryant - Stunts Coordinator, J. D. Street - Special Effects Supervisor, Carrie Morrow - Unit Production Manager, Shane Black - Screen Story, Shane Black - Screenwriter, Janell Sammelman - Production Assistant, Anne Marie Wilson - Production Assistant, Sarah Meyer - Production Assistant, Jason Altieri - Production Assistant, Meghan Heritage - Production Assistant, Ryan Krayser - Production Assistant, T.J. Lewis - Production Assistant, Dan Magee - Production Assistant, Michael Moran - Production Assistant, Jacob Riehle - Production Assistant, Tony Roza - Production Assistant, Asa Shumskas-Tait - Production Assistant, Andre Verderame - Production Assistant, Samir Vural - Production Assistant, Wesley Walker - Production Assistant, John Aronson - Second Unit Camera, Greg Strause - Visual Effects Supervisor, John Breslin - Visual Effects Supervisor, Edson Williams - Visual Effects Supervisor, Bill R. Dean - Sound Effects Editor, Guin Dill - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, Stephanie Purdy - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, Rachel Aberly - Unit Publicist, David W. Richert - First Assistant Camera, Neil Toussant - First Assistant Camera, Michael D. Weldon - First Assistant Camera, Craig R. Peiffer - Key Grip, James P. Dames - Key Grip, Amanda Goodpaster - Music Editor, Jeremy Raub - Music Editor, John Ottman - Music Producer, R.S. Fort - Production Coordinator, William J. McLaughlin - Properties Master, Mike Carrillo - Properties Master, Dan Leahy - Re-Recording Mixer, Dave Campbell - Re-Recording Mixer, Mike Casper - Re-Recording Mixer, Haley McLane - Script Supervisor, Jay Mason - Script Supervisor, David "Muddy" Waters - Second Assistant Director, Ty Arnold - Second Assistant Director, Craig Fikse - Steadicam Operator, John Bramley - Still Photographer, Mark Larry - Supervising Sound Editor, Richard Adrian - Supervising Sound Editor, Daniel Harvey - Visual Effects Producer, Thomas Nittmann - Visual Effects Producer, Thomas J. O'Connell - ADR Mixer, Troy Porter - ADR Mixer, Greg Banta - Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, Larry Sushinski - Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, Eva M. Schroeder - Assistant Location Manager, Wendall S. Hinkle - Assistant Location Manager, Mark S. Kusy - Assistant Properties, Buddy Ray Reynolds-Maichel - Assistant Properties, Ron Edmonson - Best Boy Grip, Charlene "Charli" Gerhardt - Buyer, Cameron Duncan - Camera Loader, Farrah Fox-Collis - Casting Associate, Cory Geryak - Chief Lighting Technician, David Morton - Chief Lighting Technician, Joe T. Delmonte - Construction Coordinator, Virginia Burton - Costumes Supervisor, James Morioka - Dialogue Editor, Paul Hackner - Dialogue Editor, Doug Chartier - Dolly Grip, Joel Jaspan - Dolly Grip, C. Roy Nigra - Dolly Grip, Jennifer Bender - Extra Casting, Mariann Lee - Extra Casting, Vince Filippone - First Assistant Editor, Gregg Barbanell - Foley Artist, Sean Flanigan - Key Hairstylist, Michael Moore - Key Hairstylist, Wade Daily - Key Make-up, Scott Eddo - Key Make-up, Ronald Sica - Leadman, Sim Bajaj - Personal Assistant, Brett Howard - Personal Assistant, J.D. Iriarte - Personal Assistant, Jimmy Rich - Personal Assistant, Jennifer Bell - Second Assistant Camera, Paul Santoni - Second Assistant Camera, Steve Lonano - Second Second Assistant Director, Vernon A. Davidson - Second Second Assistant Director, Carisa Rosenthal - Set Dresser, Andrew R. Swan - Set Dresser, Photon VFX - Visual Effects, Jeannie Gunn - Set Decorator, Brett Halliday - Book Author, Larce Crawford - Construction Foreman, Jason Platt - Foley Mixer, Valerie Davidson - Foley Supervisor, Brent Carlson - Production Secretary, David Kessler - Set Medic/First Aid, Tom Seymour - Special Effects Technician, Robert Sterry - Video Assist, Cheryl Potter - Visual Effects Editor, Audrey Zaldumbide - Graphic Design, Christopher Alba - Assistant Editor, Josh Kent - Compositor, Scott Kinsey - Compositor
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a 2005crime/black comedyfilm, which engages many conventions of the classic film noir genre in a tongue-in-cheek fashion. It is based, in part, on the novel Bodies Are Where You Find Them by Brett Halliday. The cast includes Robert Downey, Jr., Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan. The screenplay was written by Shane Black who also directed the film. It was produced by Joel Silver, and co-produced by Downey's wife Susan Downey (who is credited as Susan Levin). The film's title is a reference to Pauline Kael's 1968 book, which in turn was named after a translation of an Italian poster of a James Bond movie, which she called "perhaps the briefest statement imaginable of the basic appeal of the movies."[2]
Running from police after a botched robbery, Harry evades the cops by running into a movie audition for a hardboiled film and, ironically, impresses the producers with his recollection of the robbery having gone awry and resulting in the death of his accomplice (which they mistake for rehearsing material). He is then brought to Hollywood, where he's introduced to private investigator "Gay" Perry van Shrike (Val Kilmer), enlisted to help Harry prepare for his role in the movie.
Harry is introduced to Hollywood parties and encounters his dream-girl, Harmony Lane (Michelle Monaghan), a girl Harry has known since childhood. The two childhood friends leave for Harry's apartment, but budding romance is squelched when Harry proceeds to drunkenly make out with Harmony's friend.
Following around Perry at his job, Harry stumbles upon evidence of a complicated murder mystery eerily similar to the detective stories that Harry and Harmony grew up reading. The three team up to solve the mystery and encounter a series of seemingly nonsensical problems.
The film was significantly praised, but due to its limited release, was overlooked for major awards and was voted "Overlooked Film of the Year" by the 2005 Phoenix Film Critics Society on December 20, 2005.
Many critics admired the film for its sharp and clever comedy, as well as alluding to Black's directing and Downey's and Kilmer's screen chemistry and individual performances. Mike Russell of the Portland Oregonian observed that "This is one of Downey's most enjoyable performances, and one of Kilmer's funniest. It's a relationship comedy wrapped in sharp talk and gunplay, a triumphant comeback for Black, and one of the year's best movies".[4] Jeff Otto, an IGN critic, wrote that "It takes a bunch of genres and twists them into a blender, a pop relic that still feels current...one of the best times I've had at the movies this year."[5]
Box office
Despite the film's mainly positive reviews, it did not garner much attention at the United States or international box office.
The film opened on October 20 in the United States, with a limited release. From its release until mid-November, the film's distribution increased every weekend due to its favorable critical reviews. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang stayed in release in the United States until early January.[6] The film earned a total of $4,243,756 in the United States.[1]
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang grossed far more outside the United States, accounting for just over 70% of the film's worldwide gross, accumulating $11,541,392.[1] The film ended up earning $15,785,148 worldwide at cinema.[1]
The film has earned over $6,824,459 in DVD sales and rentals.[7]
