Review of The Dead Pool (1988) by David L — 22 Apr 2008

Buddy Van Horn's "The Dead pool" was the fifth Harry Callahan movie and last part of the beloved action thriller series. I've always had huge troubles of actually deciding which one of the four sequels of the original "Dirty Harry" (1971) is the very best and which one's the worst because I sort of like 'em all. Of course the easiest solution would be to simply claim that every new sequel was a bit worse than the previous since even Clint himself confessed that perhaps he made couple of Harry Callahan films too many.

Well, he was only 41 years old in the first Harry flick and 58 in this so that should tell something. Only reason to shoot "The Dead pool" was the regrettable fact that "Bird" (1988), Eastwood's own direction and most personal work about the jazz legend Charlie Parker he adored, turned out to be a flop and Clint had to do a movie that would be a reliable, certain commercial success. When he took up his good old .44 Magnum for the fifth time everybody knew that this movie would be a definite hit.

But I just can't help it, I know what I like and I like "The Dead pool". Jim Carrey is quite fabulous in his small yet important role of a drug addicted heavy rock star Johnny Squares. Music video scene (with outstanding Guns n' Roses song "Welcome to the jungle" on the background) is one of my absolute favorite moments of the film. It's interesting to observe how Jim has his gestures, expressions and mannerisms several years before his breakthrough and even in the more "serious" role.

By the way, note to rock fans, have you noticed that all the members of Guns n' Roses' 1988 line-up are guests in the funeral of Johnny Squares? I know we've seen all the important there is to see about Harry Callahan in the first four movies. "The Dead pool" only rides in the charisma and popularity of Eastwood's famous macho character but it's still an excellent and enjoyable film so it just doesn't matter to me. It includes good traditional action, nice amusing characters and various legendary Harry Callahan one-liners like "Swell", "Marvelous" and "You're s*** out of luck" and it entertains anyone who loves Eastwood.