Review of Homicide: The Movie (2000) by Gunter V — 11 Oct 2009

Man, I wanted to like this more. I was excited about the Criterion edition. It does get better as it goes along, but it takes a while, and it's not enough; Mamet only ever seems in control of two dimensions of a three-dimensional idea. As is often the trouble with screenplays by playwrights, who are used to filling every possible moment with words, the characters' back-and-forth sounds like a variation on the Abbott and Costello "Who's On First?" routine. And fine, you kind of get used to that. That's a style. But I read in a review that HOMICIDE stands up next to THE WIRE and THE SHIELD in its authenticity, its gritty portrayal of cops and criminals, whatever, and that's just not the case. The writing is not, really not, subtle. And I guess that's my problem with Mamet. I have the impression that he thinks he's being subtle, thinks he's deep in these characters' heads, and he's wrong. The actors, Joe Mantegna!, William H. Macy!, are heroic for making me feel anything, saying the ridiculous things they're saying.

The acting, like I said, is great (except by the supporting players, who mostly sort of suck). There are some tense scenes. Ving Rhames shows up at the end and he's awesome. The story is kind of surreal and weird and ambitious and I appreciate that. But there's a difference between "lean" and "underdeveloped" and I think HOMICIDE falls into the latter category.

I don't know. I'll give Mamet three more chances.