Biloxi Blues (1988)
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81% of critics liked it
(26 reviews) -
52% of users liked it
(9,774 ratings)
Biloxi Blues was the second of playwright Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical trilogy (number one was Brighton Beach Memoirs; number three, Broadway Bound). Matthew Broderick stars as Simon's alter ego Eugene Morris Jerome, who is drafted and shipped off to boot camp in Biloxi, Mississippi in… More Biloxi Blues was the second of playwright Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical trilogy (number one was Brighton Beach Memoirs; number three, Broadway Bound). Matthew Broderick stars as Simon's alter ego Eugene Morris Jerome, who is drafted and shipped off to boot camp in Biloxi, Mississippi in the waning days of World War II. Eugene is at the mercy of near-psychotic drill sergeant Toomey (Christopher Walken), who seems to have a personal vendetta against the poor schlemiel (Toomey also has all the film's best lines). While sweating out basic training, Eugene is indoctrinated into manhood by local prostitute Rowena (Park Overall). The film version of Biloxi Blues retains the wit and poignancy of the theatrical original--except towards the end, which pointlessly emphasizes a showdown between Eugene and Toomey. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Mike Nichols
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Mar 25, 1988 Wide
- Studio
- MCA Universal Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Michael Wilmington, Los Angeles Times
Broderick acts with a beautifully wary exuberance, full of a puckish vulnerability and anxious, twisted impishness.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Perhaps this movie isn't as wise or as profound as Simon wants it to be, but it is certainly a cut above sitcom complacency, and packed with wit and charm.
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Variety Staff, Variety
Playing a character perched precisely on the point between adolescence and manhood, Broderick is enjoyable all the way.
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, Time Out
Suffice it to say it is suicidally against the grain.
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
With superb performances by Mr. Broderick and Christopher Walken, who plays Mr. Simon's nearly unhinged, very funny variation on the drill sergeant of movie myth, ''Biloxi Blues'' has a fully satisfying lif...[ END HERE ] of its own
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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Matthew Broderick
as Eugene Morris Jerome
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Christopher Walken
as Sgt. Merwin J. Toomey
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Matt Mulhern
as Joseph Wykowski
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Corey Parker
as Arnold Epstein
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Michael Dolan
as James J. Hennessey
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Penelope Ann Miller
as Daisy Hannigan
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Markus Flanagan
as Roy Selridge
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Casey Siemaszko
as Donald Carney
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Park Overall
as Rowena
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Natalie Canerday
as Girl at Dance
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Christopher Ginnaven
as Corporal Ginnaven
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Mark Jacobs
as Pinelli
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Kirby Mitchell
as 1st Digger
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Alan Pottinger
as Peek
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Norman Rose
as Newsreel Announcer
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David Whitman
as Tower Officer
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Jeff Bailey
as Mess-hall Corporal
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Michael Haley
as Corporal Haley
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Ben Hynum
as Private Lindstrom
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Tom Kagy
as 3rd Digger
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Dave Kienzle
as Coporal
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Matthew Kimbrough
as Spitting Cook
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Morris Mead
as Corporal Mead
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Christopher Phelps
as Private Phelps
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A. Collin Roddey
as Private Roddey
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Bill Russell
as Rifle Instructor
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Scott Sudbury
as Private Sudbury
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Allen Turner
as 2nd Digger
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Andy Wigington
as Corporal Wigington
