Hollywood Homicide (2003)

Good Action Movie

Three actors that I really like: Ford, Hartnett, Olin. Action movie done in good taste. Some laughs. The good guys win in the end. September 30, 2008

Mixed Thoughts On Ths One

Hollywood Homicide isn't a good film when you get right it down to it, nor is it a really bad one. Hollywood Homicide is a film that was butchered in the editing, script department and really lacks what it needed to be a hit in the summer time which is more action. The trailer pretty much gives away the plot which at some points in the movie goes haywire it seems like the studio was forcing Ron Shelton to give everything into the movie so it could be a big summer tent pole release but alas for a movie of this nature to be a big summer tent pole release in my opinion I would have changed a few things. Number one- replace the non acting Master P with the more rounded Mos Def (who can make any bad movie pretty enjoyable hence his work in Showtime). Number two - make the film R rated you can't make a movie about Gangster rappers and not have profanity, I mean honestly how many ganster rappers do you know that release clean CD'S by choice ? As much sex as Hartnett was getting the film could have showed some T&A ! Number three - Give the very underrated Isiah Washingtion more screen time as the villain ! I think that version of Hollywood Homicide would have been good to release in the summer. Although Ford and Hartnett have good chemsitry the film that is made here would have been better suited as a winter or fall release. So like I said I still have mixed thoughts on this one I liked the film for Hartnett and Ford and the many cameo's and pop culture refernces but the story line and lack of action upset me. I give the film ** stars. September 14, 2008

Unfunny Drama

The film begins at a shooting range. Next we see scenes of Hollywood with a sound track that hints about this story. Customers are searched upon entry to a club. Two men prepare to shoot up this club. The crowd panics and flees, the police are called. The written note hints at humor, so do the actions of the detectives. Joe needs to sell his house for financial reasons. There is a comic scene with "Wanda"; it wasn't funny. The scene with the talk show host isn't funny. Then we see who ordered the attack at the club. Back at the police station Joe is under investigation. Then there is an incident out in the parking lot that pads out the film. The detectives visit a recording studio to gather information. The scenes change, and the story plods on. Do you find them funny?

Ever hear a worse script? Does it make much sense? If you think the film has hit bottom after the half-way point, just keep watching. Will a car chase wake up the audience? There is lots of action at the ending, and the good guys win. No surprises here.
If you want to watch a funny police drama see "Stop or My Mom Will Shoot". June 19, 2008

Shelve this movie in the cheap movies bin

This movie is not worth watching. It had a subpar plot and to be honest not a lot of action you would expect with a Harrison Ford movie. If you are looking for a great movie that stars Harrison Ford, please see another movie. By no means not this one!!!!. June 3, 2008

Hollywood Homicide (Alias Harrison Ford: What Were You Thinking?)

Ever since I was a kid seeing "Star Wars" for the first time more than thirty years ago, I have always been a big fan of Harrison Ford. However, the mind-boggling poor judgment he has exhibited in the last decade as to what box office failures he is willing to star in can no better be witnessed than in the astoundingly awful and unfunny movie, "Hollywood Homicide," which doesn't rate any better than a bargain bin rental.

Prior to viewing, I hadn't seen any movie with Josh Hartnett before, so, frankly, I didn't know what to expect from him. Still, I already knew director Ron Shelton writes relatively solid screenplays, and the supporting cast (including Lena Olin, Bruce Greenwood, Keith David, and cameos by Lou Diamond Phillips, Smokey Robinson, among a few others) seemed well-chosen. With those positives in mind, I gave "Hollywood Homicide" a home DVD screening recently on a Saturday night.

Here's the premise: two mismatched L.A. homicide cops (Harrison Ford & Josh Hartnett) are partners on the gang slaying of a hip-hop rap group amidst a melee in a downtown nightclub. Ford's character, Joe Gavilan (who is also desperately trying to sell off a lavish monstrosity of a home in the hills in his part-time gig as a real estate agent), also has the burden of covering for his distracted, young partner (Hartnett), who wants to give up police work to become a 'serious' actor.

Meanwhile, the drug-dealing thug (Isaiah Washington's character) who masterminded the multiple-homicide has a corrupt cop on his side (who, conveniently enough, has ties to the death of Hartnett's father, also a cop). To add a little extra spice to the storyline, another corrupt cop, this one with Internal Affairs, is cracking down on our heroes for their outside interests.

Not too original, is it?

I simply couldn't believe my eyes as to how terrible this movie really is. Every conceivable cop movie cliché is here (the mismatched partners, corrupt cops, Internal Affairs, stupid car chases, vicious drug dealers, etc.), but Shelton's generic script doesn't bring anything new to the table. Harrison Ford (playing a cop for the umpteenth time) clearly looks bored out of his mind, and seems no doubt as tired and haggard as the grizzled character he plays. Josh Hartnett, as Ford's yoga-loving sidekick, doesn't provide even adequate back-up, since he too knows this movie is simply a contractual obligation and nothing more.

All in all, the movie felt completely artificial to me in that none of the performances were remotely plausible (with the exception of Isaiah Washington, who at least redeems himself as the chief villain). It just seemed like I was watching movie stars acting for the sake of acting vs. seeing them portray the cops and the robbers they want you to believe they are.

As an example, the film's worst scene (there are far too many to choose from, mind you) arguably comes at the climax in which Hartnett commandeers a family SUV (complete with Mom and two little kids in the backseat) to prolong a violent chase sequence. Listening to Hartnett's character banter with the kids while chasing the bad guys is a painful lesson in bad taste in terms of needlessly endangering innocent lives for a cheap action movie thrill.

Instead, if you are looking for a solidly funny cop action-comedy that actually makes good on its promise of ridiculing cop movie clichés, I would recommend checking out 1987's "Dragnet" (w/ Dan Ackroyd & Tom Hanks) and/or 1988's "The Naked Gun" (w/ Leslie Nielsen). They are both far superior to this uninspired rehash.

Perhaps Harrison Ford was aiming for a similar type of action comedy spoof or maybe he was somehow conned into believing that this would be the next big "Lethal Weapon"-like franchise. However, the reality is that Ford, pardon the expression, ends up shooting only blanks here, and, yes, frankly looks a wee bit too desperate for a hit movie (particularly, next to a supposedly hot young actor like Hartnett).

In the end, here's my suggestion: carefully examine the promo picture on the DVD box. To me, it was the only honest thing about the movie, because it delivers exactly what you are going to see: a generic buddy cop flick. Still, from that picture, if you can somehow convince yourself that Ford and Harnett look even remotely interested in selling this movie, then maybe you should give "Hollywood Homicide" a chance. Otherwise, you're definitely better off finding something else to invest your time and money in.

Side Note: As for the DVD special features, they are all standard issue, so don't expect anything redeeming in that regard for your potential purchase. March 10, 2008

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