Chirphymium
It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional
Aiden Melton
The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.
Isbel
A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
Predrag
One of the most over-looked, under-rated 90's noir killer-on-the-loose films of the times, that had Oscar all over it. The most Elmore Leonard like film to date which says this stands taller than most movies with guns and cars. Alec Baldwin displays the marks of genius here, over the top, beyond the fringes of insanity and then he pulls back from sociopath to sweet, chummy boyfriend to his thespian equal, Jennifer Jason Leigh, who plays the dim-witted,sweet girlfriend forever to endearing believability. A twist on the Bonnie and Clyde match-up, as this Bonnie, Leigh never catches on to the pathological insanity of her boyfriend. "Miami Blues" takes the glamour out of Miami in the 1980's Alec Baldwin shines as "Junior" in this offbeat, quirky, action/crime/comedy adventure. That sounds like an odd combination, and it is just that unique combination that really makes this film work. Although George Armitage is the director of this film, the entire cinematography, mood. Music, quirky camera angles, and cast spells Jonathan Demme all the way. He is the credited producer of this film, but I imagine he certainly had a lot to do with the directing and casting as well. You can see all Demme favorites here in small cameo roles, as in his previous "Married To The Mob", and "Something Wild" (see my reviews). Charles Napier, a welcome Demme mainstay, is in a peripheral role here as a colleague of Wards' Mosley, but he's just one of many familiar faces that show up unexpectedly throughout the film."Miami Blues" is a unique blend of comedy, and action crime thriller that will get your attention with it's visual flash, and hold your interest with its well paced plot and odd characters. It's a forgotten sleeper that should not be missed.Overall rating: 9 out of 10.
PimpinAinttEasy
Dear George Armitage, I was thinking about addressing my review letter to Charles Willeford, the great man who wrote the book on which your movie was based. But then I thought I ought to address it to you, because Miami Blues is a very influential film. Or lets say, it seems to have inspired the style of one of my favorite American filmmakers of the last 20 years - Terry Zwigoff. Zwigoff even referenced Miami Blues in Bad Santa.It is almost as if Zwigoff borrowed all the cynicism of Ghost World, Bad Santa and Art School Confidential from Miami Blues. Though it must be said that all these movies were based on the work of writers who had extremely cynical views about American life and culture.He also seems to have borrowed some of your style. Every scene in your movie is like an event. I mean, each scene could be a standalone video on Youtube. This is also the case with some of Zwigoff's films. I liked how you paid attention while selecting actors who played the smallest roles. They were all very memorable.Alec Baldwin really nailed Freddie Frenger - what a change from the usually portly all American hero persona (like Dave Robicheaux in Heaven's Prisoners) to the nihilistic punk in Miami Blues. But it is the cherubic Jennifer Jason Leigh who steals the show. Her character in the book was a lot darker than in the movie. Anyway, Leigh was adorable in the film as an airhead prostitute with a heart of gold. Fred Ward was decent I guess. But I thought he failed to convey how pathetic the Hoke Moseley character really was. Charles Napier - favorite of Russ Meyer also makes an appearance.There are no good or bad guys in the film. It is a messed up world. Everyone is pathetic or doomed. Nobody or nothing is really worth saving. Like the lyric from a punk rock song - "Everyone's an a*****, everyone's a creep. I look out my window, there is garbage in the streets." It is a shame you didn't make more movies, George Armitage.Best Regards, Pimpin.(8/10)
seymourblack-1
Based on the novel of the same name by Charles Willeford, "Miami Blues" is an account of an ex-con's crime spree that includes murder, theft and impersonating a police officer. It's also a thriller that's full of black humour, strong violence and action that's delivered at high speed. The sheer pace of this movie and the quirkiness of its characters are its strongest points and together ensure that it remains gripping from start to finish.After being released from a California prison, Frederick J Frenger Jr. (Alec Baldwin) flies to Miami airport where he steals a suitcase and gets hassled by a Hare Krishna devotee before casually breaking one of the guy's fingers in retaliation. Unfortunately, his victim dies of shock and this triggers a police investigation.Frenger, who prefers to be known as Junior, checks into a hotel and orders a hooker. The simple-minded Susie Waggoner (Jennifer Jason Leigh) soon joins him and they quickly begin a romantic relationship. Susie who's working her way through college, wants to settle down to a conventional lifestyle and so when she and Junior set up house together, she happily spends her time cooking for him and keeping the place clean. She's unaware that he's an habitual thief and that during his time in Miami; he's been carrying on business as usual.Detective Sergeant Hoke Moseley (Fred Ward), the veteran cop who's investigating the killing at the airport, comes to Junior and Susie's place because he says that Junior has been identified as a possible witness. The unkempt detective chats affably to the couple and shares a meal with them during which he consumes numerous cans of beer and clearly becomes convinced that Junior is an ex-con and probably the killer he's pursuing. After finishing his meal and inviting Junior to a line-up at the police station, he leaves.Incensed by Moseley's visit, Junior goes to the detective's hotel room and brutally attacks the cop before stealing his gun, badge and false teeth. This gives him the opportunity to go on another stealing rampage during which he enjoys posing as a cop and using every advantage it gives him to relieve various people of their money and possessions. The assault on Moseley led to him being hospitalised but after being discharged, this previously laid-back cop becomes extremely determined to hunt Junior down and bring him to justice.This movie's run-of-the-mill plot is illuminated by its characters and Alec Baldwin gives a particularly energetic performance as the violent sociopath who's also an inveterate thief and a pathological liar. Deception also features strongly in his modus operandi as he arrives in Miami under an assumed identity, indulges in a sham version of suburban life and masquerades as a cop.Jennifer Jason Leigh makes the naïve Susie a sympathetic character and Fred Ward is great as the sleazy, unshaven and cynical cop who's really struggling to cope but remains good natured despite being humiliated by Junior, ridiculed by his colleagues and having personal problems with his false teeth, alimony and indigestion. These characters' flaws emphasise their humanity and provide an effective counterpoint to the callous ruthlessness of Junior in what ultimately proves to be a very engaging crime thriller.
gusdanjaq
Miami blues is a really dark comedy with a lot more to it than whats meets the eye. Alec Baldwin plays a recently released sociopath murderer and thief who manages himself to steel a police badge in Miami. He is joined by a clueless hooker (jennifer Jason)who thinks she has found a decent man to settle down with. Fred Ward plays the officer trying to apprehend Baldwin and get his badge back. Mmiami blues is a great film mostly thanks to the performances by the three main characters. Baldwin does a beautiful job playing this psychopath in a way that you start rooting for him, even though he is murdering, assaulting and steeling from people, you start seeing him as a really sick guy with the mental development of a child. I mean we clearly know his actions are no good at all, but he plays it with a certain quality that even makes you feel sorry for the guy. This ambiguity with which he play the character is what builds the dark humor in this film, because he seems as if he really isn't aware of the possible consequences of his actions. Jennifer Jason beautifully plays the gorgeous and naive prostitute that finds herself falling in love for this criminal. Fred Ward also does a great job playing the cop desperate to recover his badge from Baldwin. This movie greatly shows Baldwin'versatility, and kind of makes me thing of a much lighter version of Henry; Portrait of a serial killer, in the way that both movies deal with leading characters that even thought their morals are highly questionables (they kill and steel just for the kick of it) they are not entirely unlikeable to the audiences witnessing their acts. Great performances, Really Good film.
