Best Seller (1987)

Best Seller is a classic

For most fans of a great drama and lovers of classic film endings 'Best seller' is a film that not only has a fantastic story line but is full of mental gratifaction that most films will never reach. A simply made film that is so quick and well produced that you will want to watch it again just to make sure nothing is missed. Both Woods and Dennehy give slick, fun and tuff guy performances here to compare with their roles in Once Upon a time in America and First Blood. If you liked Usual Suspects you will love this film. July 14, 2008

close to the book "Gas Card"

This movie is great I hated to get up to go to the bathroom. But I had the same problem when I read the book Gas Card I could not put it down. July 3, 2008

Don't F^%K!!!!!!! WITH MR.WOODS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is ONE of James Woods best performances,he plays a
professional Killer and he is very GOOD at his job.
Early in the movie we see Brian Dennehy as a cop at a bank
getting ready to leave,right before his shift ends however
a group of hold up men with mask's come in. Brian being the
good guy he is tries to do his duty by protecting the $$$
BIG MISTAKE! For James(I rule)Woods is one of the guy's
and injures Brian pretty bad. Now speed things up 10 yrs.
Brian writes books and James is a assasin for $$$.I don't
want to say anymore for you need to see this.I will just
say that James wants to frame his boss and have Brian
write the book,there are alot of good scenes in this
like when James is on the run for desertion and has a hitman
after him,the hitman is in Brians house and James has so much
anger in him for this hitman is after him,and not Brian nor
his 7 yr.old daughter. James confronts the hitman.
JAMES:THEY-THEY SENT YOU?? FOR ME!
HITMAN:(SWALLOWS NERVOUSLY) UM...YEAHH.
JAMES:(SEE'S BRIANS DAUGHTER UP STAIRS)HEY..YOU! YOU KNOW ME
I AM A FRIEND OF YOUR FATHER'S.GO TO YOUR ROOM O.K.SWEETIE
GO TO YOUR ROOM AND LOCK THE DOOR..DON'T BE SCARED! THAT'S
A GOOD GIRL.(SHE LOOKS AT HIM) IT'S GOING TO BE O.K. YOU JUST
GO AND LOCK THE DOOR.(JAMES GOES FROM A LOOK OF A FATHER AND CONCERN
TO A LOOK OF A KILLER WHEN HE FOCUSES ON THE HITMAN)WELL..COME ON!!!

The fight scene is not that long but what was great is it looked
VERY real! James being able to do armlocks and chokes as if he
was a trained killer...please this is a must for anyone who
likes thrillers.action and a great story...the scene of James
taking Brian to his home he has not been to in years got
me to wipe my face a lil for his room had not changed and
it had model planes and James acting was so good you can
tell he was never going to see that room again(aw DAMN! I'm
getting teary eye's just thinking of that scene) (cough,sniff)
Anyway see this movie if you have a chance it is ONE of James's
BEST(seller)
August 16, 2007

Sheesh!

Mediocre in it's best moments. Cliche-criven. The, ahem, "plot," is trite, amatuerish, almost juvenile, although there'd probably been more naked females had it been truly juvenile. Perhaps I should say, "faux-profound."

The two stars, Woods and Dennehy, are the ONLY thing decent about this film. Victoria Tennant is wasted (and almost abused) by this director. I wouldn't say avoid, but be prepared to be underwhelmed, based on the bulk of reviews here. You must be a fan of JW or BD, which I am.
Rent, don't buy. After viewing, one finds oneself in a semi-comatose state, possibly drooling, if you weren't careful to arrange yourself before hitting the PLAY button. Brain-numbing, dreery, awful. June 17, 2007

A little gem

This cracking little thriller features two of Hollywoods most underated actors. James Woods always the 2nd string to better known actors, and Brian Dennehy who is now an award winning stage actor on Broadway.

Without these two actors and the chemistry that develops between them the film wouldn't have worked. Its an interesting story that keeps you guessing where its going (unless you've seen it as many times as I have). The direction by John Flynn is straightforward, and the script by Larry Cohen is pretty sharp. There are a few memorable scenes that will stick with you, and I would say its one of the few films I've seen where it could have been 15 minutes longer.

Woods plays the villian in the film, with Dennehy playing the cop who is now a successful novelist. Something in their past links them together and Woods wants Dennehy to write about it!

If you've managed to miss this film over the last 20 years, its well worth buying, as I have found it certainly holds up to repeated viewings.
March 7, 2007

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