Review of Crimewave (1985) by Stuart K — 19 Dec 2008
Sam Raimi's second film after The Evil Dead (1982) was co-written by the Coen Brothers, and had a nightmarish shoot fraught with studio interference, Raimi may disown the film but it's stood the test of time.
It has secuity video engineer Vic Ajax (Reed Birney) getting caught up with two cartoon-like hitmen Faron Crush (Paul L. Smith) and Arthur Coddish (Brion James), who had been hired by Ajax's boss Ernest Trend (Edward R.
Pressman) to kill his business partner. But, as you may have guessed, nothing goes to plan. Raimi created a live-action cartoon with this film, which owes alot to the old screwball comedies of the 1930's/40s, as well as alot of Looney Tunes and Tex Avery cartoons of that era as well.
It's flaws do show and it does employ alot of the technical trickery used in The Evil Dead, and it does echo alot of what the Coen's would later do with Raising Arizona, but it is fun while it lasts, oh, and Bruce Campbell steals the film with an extended cameo as Renaldo 'The Heel'.
This review of Crimewave (1985) was written by Stuart K on 19 Dec 2008.
Crimewave has generally received mixed reviews.
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