Review of The Dead Pool (1988) by Stuart K — 24 Mar 2011
The fifth, and so far, last Dirty Harry film to date. It's the weakest entry to date, and it seems a pity they stopped at this one, but it's not a complete write-off, it does have some memorable moments of action, one or two amusing cameos and a rather unorthodox car chase.
Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) has become something of a local celebrity, he's had crime kingpin Lou Janero (Anthony Charnota) sent to jail, and now Harry's face is on magazines, something he's not happy about.
Meanwhile, rock star Johnny Squares (Jim Carrey) is found dead of an apparant drugs overdose, or is he?? He was making a slasher film with director Peter Swan (Liam Neeson), and then the producer of Swan's film is found dead in a restaurant in Chinatown, who had a list known as a Dead Pool, a game where you predict celebrity deaths.
Squares name was on the list, and so's Harry's name. All eyes and fingers point to Swan, who also had a list, but he claims not to have done it. In order to catch the killer, Harry has to co-operate with the media, in particular, news reporter Samantha Walker (Patricia Clarkson), but the deaths continue.
The film has some good moments, and Eastwood does his usual stuff as Harry, though by this point, Harry does feel out of his time, he seems at odds in the late 1980's, though this one is worth it for the amusing little cameo from Jim Carrey.
This review of The Dead Pool (1988) was written by Stuart K on 24 Mar 2011.
The Dead Pool has generally received mixed reviews.
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