Review of Mad Dog and Glory (1993) by Paul P — 07 Jun 2007

I saw this movie in a movie store next to my house that carries very odd movies- things you would never expect to find anywhere else- this film was certainly no exception. When I first saw the box I knew I had to see it just because of the potential hilarity that would ensue from Bill Murray portraying a gangster and Robert De Niro playing the straight-laced, meek cop.

I was blown away by this film. Bill Murray has a very dark, almost sinister role in this film (at one point he actually slams De Niro against the wall by the throat and proceeds to ominously threaten him).

Many of the scenes of the film (particuarly the beginning) is very dark, and the humor throughout the film itself has touches of both light and shade, often at the same time. The penultimate scene, pitting Murray against De Niro, is very bizarre, like everything else in the film, yet it works.

With a film like this you don't really expect it to work, especially because the film never seems to move away from it's weird sense of awkwardness. This is the films strong suit though, but the entire story seems to be walking along a tight rope- but it pulls it off perfectly.

The entire film is shot in Chicago as well, so that's a plus. And David Caruso does a nice job as well.