Retro Film Review: Best Seller (1987)
Many Hollywood screenwriters are probably going to sympathise with the protagonist of Best Seller, 1987 thriller directed by John Flynn. The plot begins in 1972, when the group of men wearing Nixon masks conducts murderous raid on police depository in downtown Los Angeles. Dennis Meechum (played by Brian Dennehy), the only survivor of the attack, later becomes LAPD detective and describes the ordeal in the book that would launch his parallel career of a true crime author. However, fifteen years later that career is going downwards, together with the rest of Meechum's life - his wife died and left him with sixteen year old daughter Holly (played by Allison Balson), plenty of debts and murderous writer's block. Salvation comes in the form of Cleve (played by James Woods), mysterious character who claims that he used to work as hired assassin for David Madlock (played by Paul Shenar), corporate tycoon and one of the richest and the most influential men in Los Angeles. Cleve has fallen out of Madlock's favour and got kicked out of organisation, so he wants Meechum to describe their dirty secrets in tell-all book. Meechum is, however, sceptical and Cleve must take him across the country in order to prove that he indeed committed numerous murders. After a while, it becomes obvious that Madlock wants to prevent book from being written by using every method available.
Best Seller is one of the more obscure 1980s films, and it is easy to understand why it sank to obscurity. Low budget, character actors in roles typical for action stars and story based on the partnership between middle-aged cop and younger psychotic made it look like poor man's Lethal Weapon. But the similarities between Best Seller and 1987 blockbuster are only superficial and John Flynn's film can indeed stand on its own. The reason for this might be found in incredibly good script by Larry Cohen. Two protagonists are multilayered and their seemingly bizarre relationship is quite convincing. But the most interesting thing about script is Larry Cohen's ability to use standard cop movie plot to make critical comments about the state of Reagan's America. While most other action films of the era promoted vigilante justice as a solution to crime and similar societal evils, Cohen makes good case that crime can't be efficiently fought in society that promotes material wealth at the expense of all other values. The line between organised crime and business venture is completely vanished and criminals became pillars of society, condemning lonely, idealistic crime fighters to quixotic struggle with the establishment symbolised in wealthy lawyers, sleazy politicians and corrupt law enforcement. Such views are even explicitly pronounced in the film through character of Cleve, who uses every opportunity to justify his criminal past as embodiment of American dream.
However, the most memorable thing about Best Seller is the cast. Brian Dennehy is good in his portrayal of man torn between two careers, haunted by traumatic past, worried about uncertain future and tortured by unusual ethical choices he is forced to make. However, Dennehy had misfortune to being paired by James Woods. Compared with Woods' excellent performance, his role looks like sleepwalking. Woods almost seem to carry entire film by himself. The role of Cleve is very complex and demanding and the character appears in various incarnations – cold-blooded professional, charming seducer, homicidal psychopath and finally frustrated little boy yearning for affection and recognition. Woods plays this character with lot of ease making Cleve both larger than life and repugnant. Unfortunately, this excellent pairing and Cohen's script can't go beyond the limitations of B-movie conventions. John Flynn is good action director, but few scenes that feature shootouts, explosions and obligatory showdown at the end seem out of place in this kind and make Best Seller cheaper than it should have been. Furthermore, with Dennehy and Woods stealing every shot, the rest of cast is indeed reduced to sleepwalking. This includes Allison Balson in thankless role of Meechum's daughter and late Paul Shenar in stereotypical role of 1980s villain (with equally stereotypical henchmen wearing expensive yet identical clothes). However, somewhat unconventional ending improves general impression and Best Seller, despite its flaws and limitations, can be recommended as one of those titles that fit description of "hidden gem" quite nicely.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on December 18th 2001)
==
Blog in Croatian https://draxblog.com
Blog in English https://draxreview.wordpress.com/
Cent profile https://beta.cent.co/@drax
Minds profile https://www.minds.com/drax_rp_nc
Brave browser: https://brave.com/dra011
BTC donations: 1EWxiMiP6iiG9rger3NuUSd6HByaxQWafG
ETH donations: 0xB305F144323b99e6f8b1d66f5D7DE78B498C32A7
Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/4639-best-seller?language=en-US
Critic: AA