Review of Dick Tracy (1990) by Jon T — 15 Sep 2014

Arriving just a year after Tim Burton's BATMAN became a major blockbuster, DICK TRACY attempted to capture the same audience. Warren Beatty (who also directs this film) stars in the title role -- a police detective hot on the trail of an evil crime lord while dealing with a surly street kid and the unwelcome advances of a sultry singer.

DICK TRACY does have its points of appeal. The cinematography, for instance, is meticulously done, giving the overall movie the look and feel of a two-tone comic book. This attribute is aided by Richard Sylbert's similarly ravishing production design.

One of my particular favorite shots is a silhouetted shadow shot while a police officer talks on the phone. Stephen Sondheim's occasional musical numbers are also a plus, especially one performed by Madonna and Mandy Patinkin.

Some of the performances are noteworthy. Madonna's turn as the seductive Breathless Mahoney is surprisingly good when you consider what the critics have said about her acting career. Al Pacino is also great as the film's villain, Big Boy Caprice, although he DOES overact for quite a majority of the time.

Unfortunately there are problems that do hamper this picture. There is an impressive list of names in the cast list, but with few exceptions, they don't get much to do. It also feels too long, moving in stops and starts, and never really finding its momentum.

The subplot involving the street kid feels like it could have come from a different movie, and the triangle between Tracy, Breathless, and his bland girlfriend Tess is not particularly compelling. Only the scenes involving Big Boy have any major spark, as well as the moments whenever our hero is battling .

DICK TRACY COULD have been a great contender for a comic book adaptation if it weren't for its faults. Even with its assets, though, it never really comes to life.