Review of The Dead Pool (1988) by Mark P — 09 Jun 2009
A workmanlike finale for the series. (Though, I have always hoped for one more, with a retired Harry Callahan getting drug back for one more case. I'm a dork).
It doesn't even attempt the depth that Sudden Impact was at least aiming for. Harry gets involved with a string of murders connected to a "Dead Pool game played on a movie set. Harry figures out who the killer is. Harry kills said murder. (With the biggest weapon he's weilded yet, of course...A gag I cannot help but think gave Eastwood a few chuckles.).
The supporting cast, including Liam Neeson, Patricia Clarkson and Jim Carrey (James in the credits), is particularly quality with this outing. Yet, Neeson, in particular, you can hear struggling with the not-exactly-Shakespeare lines. I don't mean that as ciriticism, you don't watch a Dirty Harry film for snappy dialogue. (Other than Harry's one-liners, of course.).
The problem with Harry feeling like a generic cop continues. I do enjoy all of these movies and escapist entertainment, but there is a part of me that wishes they'd stopped after the moral grays of the first film. The fact that Harry is held up as a local hero for the entirety of the picture is SUCH a reverse on how we met him, and a sign of the Reagan 80's, that I can't help but think somebody did it on purpose.
At the end of the day, I love Harry Callahan, and I love watching Eastwood play the shit out of him.
This review of The Dead Pool (1988) was written by Mark P on 09 Jun 2009.
The Dead Pool has generally received mixed reviews.
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