Dead Reckoning
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Movie Reviews of Dead Reckoning
Movie Review: Film Noir and Humphry Bogart, a match
Summary: 4 Stars
The DVD transfer is fair to good. There are noticeable scratches but not bad enough to disturb the viewer. There is a little too much grain in the grey areas but, once again, the film will be good enough to watch.
How do you make a fairly standardized noir better, you cast Humphrey Bogart in the lead. Adding 50's femme fatale, Lizabeth Scott doesn't hurt either.
Capt. "Rip Murdock" (Bogie) is taking one of his men, Johnny Drake (William Prince) to receive the Medal of Honor when the man jumps the train and runs off. Rip vows to find the answers to his soldier's disappearance.
After discovering that the Drake was involved in a sordid murder just before he enlisted, Rip heads into the dark underworld to get some answers. There he meats the local underlord, Martinelli (Morris Carvnosky) a couple of thugs and signer Dusty Chandler (Liz Scott) who was the wife of the original murder victim. After Rip finds Drake's charred body in the morgue, Rip know voes to get all the answers. From there he is caught in a quicksand of gangsters, molls, murders and betrayal. Ordinarily, the film would get 3 stars since many of the plot motivations or scenes are things we've seen elsewhere. But the presence of Humphrey Bogart raises this one to 4 starts. I would say this is a keeper.
Recommended for: film noir fans, Humphrey Bogart fans, Lizabeth Scott fans and mystery fans. Not for young children
Movie Review: In memory of a beloved friend!
Summary: 4 Stars
"Dead reckoning" is an effective Noir that runs with unerring rhythm, agile script and striking dialogues.
Rip Murdock (Humphrey Bogart) assumes the investigation about the strange circumstances that surround the death of his friend Johnny Drake (William Prince). So, he will get into a web of intrigues, double crosses and double moral that even involves "a prepared marriage" for getting the money of a wealth man although Coral Chandler (Lizbeth Scott) is married with Martinelli (Morris Carnovsky).
Meanwhile Rip will embody the epitome of the genuine Noir hero, committing himself respect the search and the minimum details of this dark case.
Once more, Bogart is the show, he shines and carries on him the frantic script with his provocative and acidic comments about his ideal woman (encapsulated like a pill).
Well acted, except by Lizbeth Scott,whose dramatic punch is not weak, but absent.
Movie Review: Good but not great
Summary: 4 Stars
I won't rehash the plot, other than to say it is about as plausible as any other film noir, and more understandable on a first viewing than, say, the Big Sleep. But it somehow lacks the monumental quality of that movie, mostly because of weaker characterization. Bogie has some great lines, and his performance carries the movie along. Lizabeth Scott smoulders, but never really catches fire, and her southern accent could use some work. The bad guys aren't quite bad enough, and the copper is a little too stock. Nonetheless, a tense psychological thriller that will not disappoint, and is worth watching more than once. One day, someone will write a book about why the forties produced so many gun-toting femme fatales. Statistically, men kill their women and not vice versa, although you'd never guess that from this genre. But hey, it makes for good (and sometimes great) cinema.Movie Review: Run-of-the-mill film-noir production
Summary: 4 Stars
Humphrey Bogart in a fairly routine film-noir murder mystery set on the Gulf Coast. Bogey's army buddy, about to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, suddenly disappears and then turns up murdered. Bogey investigates and finds out the guy was involved in a murder and apparent underworld coverup, though Bogart is convinved he's innocent.
Of course there's a doll in the middle of it all - Lizabeth Scott, who's acting is not much to rave about - and sure enough she's the real murderer who's allowed Bogey's buddy to take the rap. Bogart falls for her, of course, but at the end is ready to turn her in (honor over love any day), but she dies in a preposterous car crash before he gets the chance. The script is pretty weak and most of the actors seem to be just going through the motions, though Bogey is very good.
Movie Review: The best of the Columbia Bogie Noirs
Summary: 4 Stars
This is by far the best of the Columbia Noirs made with Bogart. Generally his Warner Brothers movies were superior. But I would recommend this this one to most any Bogie or Noir fan as a great example of the type.
Generally speaking, Bogie needed Huston--and that's what's lacking from this film. Still worthwhile.