Best Seller

Everyone should watch this movie

Best Seller is directed by John Flynn and written by Larry Cohen. It stars James Woods, Brian Dennehy and Victoria Tennant. Music is by Jay Ferguson and cinematography by Fred Murphy.Cop Dennis Meechum (Dennehy) survives being shot during a robbery at the police evidence storage and writes a well received book about the events. Years later he's widowed, raising his daughter on his own and suffering from writers block as he tries to write another novel. Into his life comes Cleve (Woods), a mysterious man who saves Meechum's life and announces that he is a paid assassin and wishes Meechum to write a book about his work for a top name in industry......Only in America Dennis.It's a lovely hook is this, a cop and a killer paired together, their relationship explored via an uneasy buddy buddy formula, where the fruits of their partnership will bring very differing rewards. Along with the crackerjack turns from Dennehy (lovable burn-out) and Woods (cold-blooded calm), it's the smart screenplay from Cohen that makes Best Seller worthy of a rental at least. How it is going to pan out always keeps one interested in the tale, while there's clearly some snarky observations on America's lust for capital gain. Violence flits in and out to add some bloody pulp to proceedings, but ultimately it's the dialogue, the suspicious mood crafted by Flynn and characterisations that give the film its vitality.Released in the same year as Lethal Weapon, it appears that Best Seller got lost in the slip-stream of that higher octane fuelled picture (interestingly Dennehy gets to say the same "too old for this" line that Glover trademarked in Lethal Weapon). It's not on a par with Donner's movie, and it's far from perfect; the ending is a bit tamer than we would perhaps like and Paul Shenar's villain is a standard suit job, but there's good craft here on the page and on both sides of the camera. 7/10

Best Seller is an absolute gem of a movie and quintessentially 80s fare. They don't make them like this anymore and it's such a shame. The movie centres on the character of Dennis Meechum (Brian Dennehy) who is a cop and novelist, having been inspired to write the true account of a robbery he was the victim of years earlier. With the death of his wife leaving him to raise his daughter and having now fallen on hard times as he faces writer's block and financial and legal pressure from his publishers for missing deadlines, he is approached by the mysterious Cleeve (James Woods). Cleeve appears to know a lot about Dennis and offers him a once in a lifetime deal that will give him a best seller and solve all of his problems, write a non-fiction book of Cleeve's career as a hitman in order to take down the powerful corporate empire, Kappa International, and its founder David Madlock. The joy of this movie is in that set-up, two people who are on opposite sides of the law yet are put in a situation where they have to work together to take down a larger evil. James Woods is brilliant as usual in exuding that confidence and cocky charm and Brian Dennehy plays those stoic heroic figures so well. You suspect Dennis comes to respect Cleeve as their partnership develops though he can't admit it, with Cleeve always one step ahead. He wants to be loved if not understood as well. The film pulls no punches in showing that Cleeve is not a nice person, with one scene in particular being quite shocking, however he does come to embody the qualities of an anti-hero. However, is Cleeve capable of an unselfish act? I highly recommend this film, which needs a UK blu-ray release as soon as possible.

Excellent crime thriller that continues to build plot throughout. James Woods gives a truly superb performance as a brutal hitman who helps veteran cop-turned author Brian Dennehy get over his writer's block by pushing a story that he believes will be a best seller, his life story aka a hitman's biography. Despite Dennehy's reluctance and disbelief at Wood's tale he reluctantly agrees but with an outlook to arrest all those involved in Wood's world.Grittyly filmed and Woods and Dennehy are on top acting form. Writers also manage to give twists and turns (some of which are expected from the get go) and they also do a wonderful jobs at making Wood's character sympathetic before he turns up his brutality another notch!

Not a film that rolls off everyone’s tongue but a great one none the less.Woods plays a well trained assassin/ thug who latches himself to Dennehy’s writer/cop to tell his life story and expose his boss.It is a little ridiculous in places but those faults are easily brushed over by great acting and some excellent set pieces.Well worth your time.

A excellent thriller. Both James Woods and Brian Dennehy are outstanding as professional hitman and cop turned author.The hitman is eager to tell his side of the story. Why he chose to be an assassin.What are his moral limitations.James Woods character is frightening at times,but he does have a human side.Both men have a past connection that has to beovercome if they are to work together.Well worth the price of the DVD

Stylish film noir with James Woods at his best. Eighties thriller with Brian Dennehy as the good cop. Good quality film.

very good movie :)