The Mighty Quinn
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Movie Reviews of The Mighty Quinn
Movie Review: A Colorful Mystery
Summary: 5 Stars
This colorful mystery harkens back to those old 1930's films of old friends like Gable and Powell who suddenly find themselves on opposite sides of the law. There is a fun flavor and lots of great music in Carl Schenkel's take on this genre from Hollywood's past. Denzel Washington charms his way through this film set on a Caribbean island where nothing is done in a big hurry.
Denzel is Xavier Quinn, an easygoing ex-marine who has returned to the island where he grew up and become the Chief of Police. On the outs with his wife Lola (Sheryl Lee Ralph), he spends most of the film trying to charm his way back into her good graces so he can be with her and his son, who idolizes him.
When someone important ends up dead, and Thomas Elgin (James Foxx) wants Quinn to accept on blind faith how it happened, Quinn can smell something funny through the clear blue waters and goes fishing. Complicating things is Elgin's desire to pin the murder on Quinn's old childhood friend, Maubee (Robert Townsend).
Maubee is an island legend, loved and protected like Robin Hood. He is a likable guy who has never grown up. When someone compares him to Peter Pan, Quinn laughs and explains he's more like Bugs Bunny. Quinn has doubts Maubee would kill anyone. When a currency which doesn't even exist starts showing up, he knows more is going on here than meets the eye.
A couple of people end up murdered while Quinn tries to patch up things with Lola, look for Maubee, and avoid sleeping with both a lovely island girl, and the very sexy wife of Thomas Elgin, Hadley (Mimi Rogers). Rogers is especially terrific here and burns up the screen in every scene she's in.
Screen legend Keye Luke has a good role as Quinn's old friend, Dr. Raj, who Quinn sneaks in to do an autopsy he's been forbidden to do. Tyra Ferrell is lovely and sexy as Isola, and Ester Rolle has some fine moments as the very Caribbean Ubu Pearl, who Quinn believes knows exactly what's going on.
The story sounds dark, but it is filled with bright colors and the smooth flavor of Jamaican rum. This is a very fun to watch film that feels like a vacation in and of itself. Denzel is fantastic as Quinn, who avoids taking the easy route with the almost irresistable Mimi Rogers, and tries to avoid being Elmer Fudd to his old pal's Bugs Bunny.
This is an excellent mystery with a big splash of color and some great music that will be a favorite after you see it for the first time. A real winner!
Movie Review: Laid-Back Island Fun
Summary: 5 Stars
There's very little I dislike about this movie. Okay, the swearing's a bit much, but everything else - the characters, the mystery, the music, the scenery - is incredibly enjoyable.Denzel Washington portrays Police Chief Xavier Quinn, a cop who struggles for respect from a lower-class that sees him as a betrayer and an upper-class that has no use for him beyond that of lap dog. His character's development is an unsuspected surprise in what could have been just another run-of-the-mill tropical thriller.
Supporting characters played by Robert Townsend, Mimi Rogers, Esther Rolle, and M. Emmett Walsh are also surprisingly nuanced, as is the murder investigation itself. The only main character I didn't quite get is Sheryl Lee Ralph as Quinn's wife; her expectations for her husband seem ill-defined in the story - in keeping with the island custom, however, I didn't let it get to me; I just went with it.
This is a budget release, so except for the trailer there are no extra features. There isn't even an insert card showing chapter listing. Subtitles come only in French and Spanish, but the film is closed-captioned if you want the equivalent of English subtitling. I would've liked more features, but I'm not going to let that get to me, either.
Get this DVD. Then get some popcorn and pour some rum in your Coke - or at least drop in a tiny paper umbrella - and enjoy the show.
Movie Review: hot and bothered
Summary: 5 Stars
FBI trained Chief of Police Xavier Quinn (Denzel Washington) has a few problems on his hands. A wealthy off-islander has been left in his own hot tub "to boil a little." It looks as if Quinn's childhood friend is the culprit, Quinn's "having a little trouble at home these days" with his wife who is auditioning for the local night spot, and various women want his body... so do less beautiful visitors to the West Indies, equipped with guns and silencers and writs. And he's forgotten to pick his young son up from school. My teenage son wore out a VHS copy of this film listening to Denzel play the piano ("I woke up feeling so bad, you know I laid right back down again"--Taj Mahal), my husband and I wore out a second for the thrilling murder mystery and the magnetism of the star. Lush, seductive, and fast paced, the music is terrific, the setting is exotic, and the action and sexual tension never let up to the last scene.
Movie Review: Highly recommended
Summary: 5 Stars
"Mighty Quinn" features a young sexy Denzel Washington (Xavier Quinn) as a smart detective who did a stint with the FBI and returns home as police chief on a Carribbean island. There's a shadowy plot involving $10,000 bills, a guerilla movement and guns, but the movie focuses more on Quinn's conflicts because his childhood friend is suspected of a grisly murder, and Quinn's own discomfort from having "made good" but ending up caught between two worlds, white and black. He's also caught between the islanders' desire to protect their own and white political pressure to drop the investigation. This film is full of sexy island women, colorful reggae music, and real world dilemmas of race and identity. No matter that we couldn't quite figure out if the plot hung together. A winner!Movie Review: A "cult-classic" movie if there ever was one!
Summary: 5 Stars
Like some of the other reviewers, I have seen this movie countless times. Based on the novel 'Finding Maubee' it weaves a richly textured mystery/drama. Throw in the lush setting of Port Antonio, Jamaica and a lively reggae soundtrack and you have the perfect escape vacation movie. Just pop this movie in, grab a mixed rum drink, and get ready to be transported. Top notch performances are delivered by EVERY actor and actress involved. There's just a genuine "feel good" element to this movie that makes you want to watch it again and again. Strangely enough, it is still a little known and little appreciated piece of movie magic. Don't miss out!