Recent Reviews for Dick Tracy
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MCT:July 8, 2008Over the top and not my kind of movie. Madonna was probably the best thing in it and I liked the song hanky panky!
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MCT:June 28, 2008Al Pacino is great here...custome design is great here...music is great here...art direction is great here...but...shit!...the most important part is so weak!!
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MCT:June 18, 2008I love it when a cinemtaic adaptation of a comic book, comic strip, or graphic novel not only recreates the look and feel of the source material, but the true essence, nature, and spirit as well, and that's even more true when it stays ferveishly faithful, too. Dick Tracy is one of those films. Until today, it had been 18 years since I had seen this movie. I saw it in the theater when I was 4. All I remember about that experience was the big deal surrounding a famous singer (Madonna) starring in the movie, and that there was action, danger, and, that I fell asleep (but it wasn't the movies fault). I recently began getting into this movie for some reason, and finally got around to renting it and watching it again.
My opening sentence should tell you how I felt about re-watching this much underappreciated film.
The art direction/set pieces, and general look of the film-the stylized depiction of a bustling 1930's city, the bright, vibrant (but not garish) color scheme, and the wildly imaginative and grotesque (but not disturbing) make-up and special effects, as well as the pitch-perfect period costumes are all excellent, and are the best things about the movie.
The acting is really impressive too, which makes the film even better considering that this movie's cast is a very large and ensemble one (there's too many great names to list here, but believe me, the casting is basically brilliant), and that there's not really a bad performance to be found. Soem performances are better than others, but yeah, nothing to complain about really.
There are some issues though, which is why I didn't give the film a perfect rating, and they do keep it from being perfect, but not from being excellent. Those issues are that, while the film is incredibly faithful, Beatty's Tracy is a little less square-jawed and more human than his comic counterpart. That's extremely nitpicky, but is still worth noting. It's a gripe so minor that it's almost invisible. Breathless Mahoney's role, I felt (and this applies to the film's story in general, lleaves something to be desired. Lot's of cliches, and some very formulaic stuff here. That makes the films more of a visual and superficial experience than one founded on a brilliant stroy, but what the film lacks it makes up for in spades by all of the flawless elements it has. I love Danny Elfman. He's a brilliant composer. The music here is amazing, and it works well with the film, but it needs to be said that the music he uses here is not original. In fact, he plagiarizes some of the work he did the year before with Batman, and, on one occasion, some John Williams, but I didn't seem to mind really. The striking similarities and unoriginality are evident, but they don't feel that that way. Again, minor gripe, but still. I'm not sure why I'm being so nitpicky, but maybe it's because there's so little wrong with this film.
On a positive side note, I think it's great when there exists a great live-action crime/action movie that is fun, and exciting, and can be that way with the usage of bloodless violence, and only ONE dirty word. ONE. Believe me, I love crimes movies loaded up with (well-used) strong violence and profanity, but I have a lot of respect for people who can get the same results by playing it down and doing it PG without having to sacrifice anything.
I'm astounded that, even though this film was a hit when it was released and won some Oscars, that it seemed to just fall of the edge of the Earth so quickly. This film needs to be revisited and be revived. Brilliant and fun (and cartoonishly funny) movies like this don't come around very often (if at all anymore), and that's a damn shame. Ususally I reserve the worn-out phrase "they don't make movies like this anymore" for forgotten gems of the 1960/70's, but that phrase applies to this film, too. Give this one another shot. Trust me. It's worth it. -
MCT:June 16, 2008I really loved parts of this film. The cast was huge and everyone did a great job. It was not that much like the comic. But they gave it a comic feel with the crazy characters and the use of so many colors. Overall, it was a decent film. They should of used a better story line though.
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MCT:June 16, 2008Not as good as it was back when i was younger but still enjoyable. A pretty cool cast Al Pacino standing out from the rest of course. Awesome sets and backround effects.
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MCT:June 9, 2008My favorite film as a kid. Brilliant sets, music, costumes and performances from Warren Beatty as the crime fighter Dick Tracy, Al Pacino as mob boss Big Boy Caprice and even Madonna was brilliant as Breathless Mahoney.
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MCT:June 4, 2008
The ensemble cast compliments the style director Beatty brought from the strip. It's really interesting how this movie works as the end of a trilogy of stories (told in comic book form). Beatty had a great deal of material they could have adapted, but decided to begin with the end. At any rate, it's an underrated film that deserves a second chance at greatness.
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MCT:May 23, 2008
A colorful, imaginative and well-executed dose of fun. Al Pacino's joyously over-the-top supporting performance is a treat to watch.
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MCT:May 18, 2008
I have a 5 disc version of this movie which features the old serial movies from the 1940s as Bonus Material.
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MCT:May 10, 2008DICK TRACY (1990)
directed by Warren Beatty
starring Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, MadonnaDick Tracy: «Is the enemy of my enemy my friend, or is the enemy of my friend my enemy?»
Pat Patton: «Tracy, what'd you say?»
Dick Tracy: «Or enemy of my enemy my enemy?»
Pat Patton: «What'd he say?»
Dick Tracy: «The enemy of my enemy is my enemy.»
Sam Catchem: «He said the enemy of his enemy is his enemy.»
Pat Patton: «Oh.»
Created back in 1931 by Chester Gould, Dick Tracy is one of the earlier comic book «superhero» to appear into the American culture. No special powers and no special costumes, except maybe his hat and suit, but his attitude was what made him special. He was smart, incoruptible and committed to his job.In 1990, Warren Beatty decided to adapted the comic strip into a feature film. The final result is a mix betwee Tim Burton's Batman and Brian DePalma's The Untouchables.Visually speaking the film is absolutely stunning, using edgy visual effects looking half realistic and half cartoonish. Vittorio Storaro's cinematography is amazing as usual and will all those colors, he and Beatty managed to capture that comic book essence that almost no one else has, not even in the recent trend of superhero movies.
Beatty is alright as Tracy, the detective who doesnt have time for his girlfriend cause he absolutely want to catch Big Boy Caprice, the new mobster leader. He also has to look after a homeless kid he saved from an abusive man and his attraction from a beutiful lady that could help him catch the gangster.
The cast of the film is impressive, even big names play samller role. Al Pacino is amazing as the big boss, Dustin Hoffman is hilarious as Mumble, hs name says it all. Charlie Kosmo is in the right tone of annoyance as the kid and Madonna is a bit annoying but she looks good.
That film is all style over substance, but even in the comic strips Dick Tracy was never anything too complicated in terms of character study, and for that reason Beatty's film is quite faithful to the source material. Especially when comes the bad guys with those grotesque faces reminescent of the drawings in the strips.
Dick Tracy is a film that capture the comic book style perfectly, wether in its tone or in its visual qualities. I think its not for everyone's appreciation but I do dig those colors, cool settings and weird visual effects. Plus Danny Elfman's music can never hurt a film. I believe its one of the finest comic book adaptations that wasnt made in the 2000's.
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MCT:May 4, 2008
Quite possibly one of the best comic based movies. This movie portrays a true hero. His morals are in the right place, yet he does have his problems (women). This movie provides a hero everyone can get behind.
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MCT:April 23, 2008
I love this film. Its so colourful and so musical, filled with an all star cast.
Even though it is a colourful film, it is very dark. -
MCT:March 14, 2008
High spirited and stunning big screen adaptation of the classic comic strip is brought to life thanks to the talents of the filmmakers and Warren Beatty with Al Pacino and the rest of the essembled cast.
If you liked "Sin City" then check out this movie. -
MCT:January 13, 2008
Very creative adaptation of the old comic with wonderfully colourful characters and great actors portraying them.
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MCT:January 1, 2008
Good flick. I liked the coloring and the feel of the environment in the movie. My only complaint is that you're not connected to all the characters, a thing that wouldn't be problem if you were a fan of the comic. Overall an entertaining movie, not bad, but not great either.
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MCT:December 23, 2007The only time I saw this movie is when it first came out. And I remember liking it. And not believing that Warren Beatty was a super-player. Ew.
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MCT:November 15, 2007
I love comic books and therefore I always buy the adaptations - it's anal, I know... Anyway, this is not one of the better ones...
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MCT:November 11, 2007
A fun flic with great characterizations; Pacino must have had a blast doing this one. Interesting, and fun use of color, too.
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MCT:November 7, 2007
This has got to be THE BEST comic book come to life they have ever made. I have watched this dozens of times and NEVER get tired of it!
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MCT:October 31, 2007
The film has a visual style that comes off the screen like gangbusters. Al Pacino is brilliantly funny as Big Boy Caprice.
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MCT:October 27, 2007
Very underrated film in my opinion, a decent rendition of the classic comic book hero. Cool visuals too, the colours are very sharp, it brings a comic book world to life. Warren Beatty has the ideal visage for Dick Tracy too. Great singing from Madonna, can't say the same for her acting though. Top notch cinematography.
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MCT:October 19, 2007
i saw this in the theatres 17 years ago and the ending was disrupted by a malfunction. i never got to see how this ended until today.
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MCT:October 18, 2007
C'est pas le meilleur film.. mais j'ai pas détesté ce film comme tant de gens... Malheureusement, j'ai peur de dire que j'ai pas haïs ce film... de crainte de me faire lapider...
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MCT:September 14, 2007
Definitely catches that comic book look. Some nice songs on the soundtrack. Slightly amusing otherwise. Madonna does look pretty good in this one.
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MCT:September 3, 2007Some impressive makeup/prosthetics but little else to recommend this. Horribly obvious studio sets and a narrative that is nothing more than a flimsy shell for the specticle it (barely) contains.
