Best Seller

This week I decided on the cinema of John Flynn. 

Best Seller is a fairly mediocre entry in Flynn’s tough guy corner of the video store. 

You know that thing where a bad guy turns to a good guy and says, “We are not so different you and I.” 

James Woods (playing a mob hitman) says something like this to Brian Dennehy (a good guy cop) about half a dozen times. 

Woods wants Dennehy (a successful author who is still on the force) to write a book about his life and the murders he committed on behalf of his former boss. 

The boss is opposed to this idea and sends various henchmen at various times to express his displeasure. 

There are a couple of decent turns here. You will figure out the connection between Woods and Dennehy before the movie reveals it. But I like it when a story point pays off. A side mission to meet Woods’ family is amusing even if it doesn’t go anywhere. 

The flick also features Dennehy saying with utmost seriousness, “I’m gonna kill you” to Woods. 

Woods reply? “Fair enough.” 

Fair enough is about as good as it gets. 

Ultimately, I just couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough to enjoy this thing. The overall plot is nonsense and most of the scenes along the way are ridiculous too. I mean, Dennehy and Woods kill a bunch of guys who were attacking them in a laundromat and when it’s over … they just leave. 

Action movies need that to happen so the plot doesn’t get bogged down with police investigations. But it’s ridiculous and hard to ignore how nonsensical it is for a cop to leave a crime scene. 

Still, there a few bits of action and decent tough guy lines in this thing. May we all be so cool that we would say this if anybody puts a firearm to our heads. 

“You ever aim a gun at me again it better be loaded.” 

Just don’t forget to have your spare gun handy.