Who was murdered? He was! D.O.A. is directed
John Chard
Who was murdered? He was! D.O.A. is directed by Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton and adapted to screenplay by Charles Edward Pogue from a story by Russell Rouse…
Who was murdered? He was!
D.O.A. is directed by Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton and adapted to screenplay by Charles Edward Pogue from a story by Russell Rouse and Clarence Greene. It stars Dennis Quaid, Meg Ryan, Daniel Stern, Charlotte Rampling, Jane Kaczmarek and Christopher Neame. Music is by Chaz Jankel and cinematography by Yuri Neyman.
A loose remake of the 1950 film noir of the same name, the story finds Professor Dexter Cornell (Quaid) staggering into a police station proclaiming that he is dying because someone has poisoned him. Told in flashback by Cornell, we see the events that led up to the point he was poisoned, but not who did it, and then track the frantic Professor as he tries to solve the who done it mystery before he keels over and dies.
Not as bad as the poor box office returns suggest it is, D.O.A. is still very much a frustratingly shaky experience. Lifting only the basic idea of the 1950 movie, the makers stamp their own mark on the premise but add too many red herrings to the already fishy stew. Some plot developments are daft, as is the casting of Meg Ryan in the key femme role - seriously she is just too cookie cute and homely for this material - while the motive reveal is a bit much to swallow. Yet there's still a lot to enjoy and sample here for the neo-noir faithful.
Visually the picture is stylish and appreciative to its noir roots. Opening in black and white to set the story in motion, Jankel and Morton then infuse the film with angled shots and frame distortions. Shadows often come into play, with Venetian blinds and roof rafters impacting, while the addition of a spiral staircase late in the day is most pleasing. Quaid is ever watchable in what is a tricky role that calls for him to garner sympathy whilst not being likable! While elsewhere Stern and Rampling provide good characterisations, even if as written the roles are too small given the importance the characters have to the plot shenanigans.
A bit over cooked on the page, and basically a race against time thriller dressed up in neo-noir clothing, D.O.A. is still none the less worthy of a viewing. 6.5/10
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★ 7 / 10
Dead And Alive !
elshikh4
This movie didn't win any awards at film festivals, or hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office, over and above The New York Times called it "one of…
This movie didn't win any awards at film festivals, or hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office, over and above The New York Times called it "one of the season's biggest disappointments". However, I beg to differ!
First of all, I'm crazy about such a plot which can make the whole world collapse on the head of its hero in only one or two days, whatever the genre is (Die Hard, 1941, Hello Dolly.. etc). Here, it's the perfect thriller: How to find the one who killed YOU, in just less than 48 hours! I said a genuine WAW when I knew that it had been done firstly in 1949. It's a great formula for a strong noir, sharp thrill, and a substance too.
Speaking of which, it seemed as an elegy of our modern life, where materialism is a sly dominant, and idealism is a naive victim. So when you're living in a world of unfaithful people, to discover eventually that your closest friend is the one who planned to kill you--then definitely you're dying. And the message was unmistakable, especially with the main character living his death literally at the end: Try to find the ones who really love you, try to do the right thing by facing evil early enough before it destroys you or others, and to be that cautious not that blind all the time.. Or should I say all the time you've got!
(Meg Ryan) was fabulous. She was at the top of her loveliness and tenderness. (Dennis Quaid) was at his best also. He did some unforgettable efforts, to the extent that I believed how he was that grieved sarcastic professor. The 2 directors, (Annabel Jankal) & (Rocky Morton), made a very good job to sense the oddity of the moment through solidly suspenseful atmosphere.
I'm in love with some scenes where everything was quite perfect: (Quaid) knows that he's going to die, so he runs in the streets like a shadow with a screamer electronic guitar; it was how to define "helpless" cinematically. The song at the bar, (Too Much Sex, Not Enough Affection) by (Timbuk. J), which refers to the absorption in materialism, plus this whole scene and the smile of (Ryan) at its end too. And the moment when the wealthy wife finds out about the suicide of the student. It has interesting image and sound, which made it a worth watching experience. However, this movie wasn't all top-notch.
Yes, it's technically glaring, but maybe the script cared of making hot chases, more than strengthening the deep concept about the end of a guiltless guy in such a horrific dark world where perfidy rules, or the poisoning of the intellectual in this savagely violent community where money owns souls. Actually, the types of people which the movie presented didn't express that important motif, and were just cards in a fun card game.
All in all, it's about being alive indeed, not to be dead and alive in the same time. And that was said in a movie which was so alive suspensefully more than intellectually, but close to dead when it comes to appreciate its real amusing time.
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Thanks! I've requested this 80's classic a week ago or so! Fantastic!