The Long Kiss Goodnight poster & wallpaper

Geena Davis, Samuel L. Jackson, Craig Bierko

A women suffering from amnesia begins to recover her memories after trouble from her past finds her again.

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71% liked it

24,139 ratings

R, 123 min.

Directed by: Renny Harlin

Release Date: October 11, 1996

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DVD Release Date: February 6, 2001

Stats: 2,325 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,325)

  • SirPant
    September 25, 2009
    SirPant
    Another great Shane Black film!
  • kiriyamakazou
    April 11, 2009
    kiriyamakazou
    God bless Shane Black. Probably the greatest writer in the world. Well, maybe not, but he certainly adds incredible dialogue to tried and tested formula's. From the moment Sam Jackson goes off on a tangent about "ass-fucking" you know you're in for a hilarious time. No wonder Bla...( read more)ck became the first screenwriter to receive $3,000,000 for a script. Jackson and Davis are the perfect pair, a bit of an odd couple, but they get along great. They play off each other wonderfully, and it's nice to see such a friendly relationship without much hint at romantic desires. Davis gives two excellent performances, one as the confused and wholesome housewife and the other as a super hot and emotionless assassin. Bierko is an excellent villain and an actor that really should have had a bigger career. It's easy to see his charming appeal and he's just pissing nuts, but never outside the realms of disbelief. Morse and Cox round off some supporting roles with all their effort and become just as memorable as the leads. With Black as a writer and Harlin handling the action scenes it's no surprise that this is a fresh and exciting film with real personality.
  • DrZeek
    March 28, 2009
    DrZeek
    Charlie: Chefs do that.

    An over-the-top action comedy involving a amnesia suffering movie regaining her memories only to learn that she was a CIA assassin. And Sam Jackson costars.

    Samantha Caine: It makes a bulge, people can see.
    Mitch Henessey: Ya want me to stick it in my p...( read more)ants and shoot my damn dick off?
    Samantha Caine: Now you're a sharpshooter?

    Geena Davis starts off as Samantha, a housewife with a daughter who has been living this new life for eight years. She hires a low rent P.I. played by Sam Jackson to help her find info about her from the past. Problems arise when some unsavory figures learn of Samantha's presence and attempt to kill her. Now, with the possibility of finding out more, Samantha and Sam Jackson's Mitch character set out to find out the truth.

    Eventually Samantha becomes her former self, Charlie, a ruthless killer, who mainly speaks in tough guy one liners. More plot takes off from there, leading to numerous elaborate action sequences.

    Charlie: Were you always this stupid, or did you take lessons?
    Mitch Henessey: I took lessons.

    The film was directed by one of the B-movie action kings, Renny Harlin of Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, and Deep Blue Sea fame, so it should certainly be no surprise that the movie is plenty violent and creative with how blood is shed. It also features one of the slowest grenade explosions of all time.

    Mitch Henessey: ...everyone knows, when you make an assumption, you make an ass out of "u" and "umption".

    The film was scripted by Shane Black of Lethal Weapon and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang fame, however the movie has the most in common with his other script - The Last Boyscout, which features hands down the best consistent use of hilarious one liners. The difference here is that the one liners are pretty good, but they are spaced out between terrible "real" dialog moments.

    Mitch Henessey: We jumped out of a building.
    Nathan: Yes, it was very exciting. Tomorrow we go to the zoo.

    What certainly does help is Sam Jackson of course, Davis' willingness to let herself get beat up a lot, a short role from Brian Cox, and Craig Bierko as the villain.

    This movie is certainly a product of the 90s, making for a perfectly enjoyable ridiculous action flick.

    Charlie: Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
    Mitch Henessey: I hope not, 'cause I'm thinking how much my balls hurt.
  • mwilliams078
    September 23, 2008
    mwilliams078
    The Long Kiss Goodnight, with Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson is a good action movie. I enjoy how this film is more original with having a sweet everyday housewive with a very dark past. She not knowing this since loosing her memory of the past until an accident starts bringing...( read more) the past back to life.
  • PvtCaboose91
    August 1, 2008
    PvtCaboose91
    "I never did one thing right in my life, you know that? Not one. That takes skill."


    The Long Kiss Goodnight is a substantially entertaining action romp in a similar vein to typical action vehicles such as Die Hard (director Harlin also helmed Die Har

    ...( read more)d 2), or films from the bona fide 80s action stars like Stallone and Arnie. The film is convincingly elevated above your typical action thriller, simply due to an assortment of fantastic actors and a fascinating plot.
    Following the disastrous Cutthroat Island, director Harlin and star Geena Davis needed a film to resurrect their respective careers. This is an exceedingly effective tool for both of them, thanks mainly to the advantage of working from a sharp and playful script penned by Shane Black. Screenwriter Black possesses a penchant for action movies: he can generate comical one-liners, riveting stories and even better...leaves plenty of room for an abundance of violent action. Personally, I'm a sucker for a quality action movie and virtually seek out hardcore carnage. Being a massive fan of Shane Black's previous films (like Lethal Weapon and The Last Boy Scout), I felt compelled to visit this film...and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

    Samantha Caine (Davis) is a suburban mother who suffers from amnesia. For 8 years she has lived her new life with no knowledge of who she once was. Despite hiring endless private detectives to uncover information about her past life, there has been no success. Samantha now has loving husband Hal (Amandes) and young daughter Caitlin (Zima) to support her, so she elects to simply disregard her former identity. Samantha is a successful school teacher living an ideal suburban existence. But after a car accident, she receives a bump on the head and she starts evoking recollections of her past while recovering. The government recognises Samantha as an assassin named Charline Baltimore who was supposedly killed several years earlier. Following an attack on her life during which she was capable of defending herself skilfully, her curiosity about her past amplifies. A cheap private investigator named Mitch (Jackson) obtains a lucky break in illuminating the information of Samantha/Charline's past. While being hunted, Samantha/Charline partners with Mitch to finally expose the truth of her identity. As usual, some convoluted government conspiracy is uncovered.

    Now that the slender plot has been established, the action rapidly commences. In tradition with routine 80s style action flicks, the violence and carnage is unbelievably ruthless at times. The Long Kiss Goodnight flaunts some remarkable action sequences. Stunts and special effects are first-rate, with a booming sound mix for a towering entertainment value. When it comes to the action, never is an erroneous foot trodden. Harlin's lens captures the action sequences with immense elegance and visual finesse. However, Shane Black's script suffers from a number of problems. Predictably, we're offered with an abundance of clichés. We can also safely predict the outcome of the events. Sometimes we're also given dialogue that serves no purpose other than to provide a cheap laugh (plenty of guilty pleasures, I admit). However, this build-up is worth it for the spectacular climax and final showdown. It's exaggerated, over-the-top and silly...but it's fun!

    The cast certainly elevate the otherwise flawed screenplay. Geena Davis is granted the daunting task of undertaking dual roles: that of an innocent suburban house-wife, and a brutal assassin whose language is relentless. Davis pulls it off. Samuel L. Jackson is always a fantastic choice for a foul-mouthed, raving side-kick. I'm particularly fond of Jackson in Die Hard - With a Vengeance where he played opposite Bruce Willis. This is the same kind of character: very comical, very well written and dexterously realised. Craig Bierko is a stellar villain. Other great additions to the cast include Brian Cox, David Morse and a young Yvonne Zima.

    Overall, The Long Kiss Goodnight will be gleefully devoured by action fans. Most of the film's fun is derived from the Davis/Jackson coupling and several frantic action scenes, though there are script flaws in place. Action masterpieces are rare, so just enjoy indulging in this entertaining action romp.
  • hkerr
    November 1, 2009
    hkerr
    LOVE IT!!..... my dad still quotes it constantly - I'll be complaining about something and he'll just be like "continue dying!" I swear, he picks out the oddest lines :)
  • rylanjp
    October 31, 2009
    rylanjp
    The perfect blend of Action, Suspense, Drama and Comedy.
  • GreenGoblin92
    September 29, 2009
    GreenGoblin92
    Geena Davis is awesome.
  • moviegirl50
    September 26, 2009
    moviegirl50
    Started to watch it..didn't like it.
  • NuditysShiver
    September 5, 2009
    NuditysShiver
    Mitch: "Oh shit! Ah, that hurt like shit!"

    Samantha: "I know. That's why I distracted you first. Same principle as deflowering virgins."

    My favorite Samuel L. Jackson film to date. I love how he hired two bums to help assist him in the bust of a guy for pros...( read more)titution. And then jumps into his whole "ass-fucking" rant. Then he starts to belittle the "prostitute", his associate. Geena Davis does not disappoint, either. She plays one of my favorite roles, Samantha Caine as an assassin for the CIA, under the real name Charly Baltimore. Suprising and predictable action, witt and storyline with a stellar cast bring this film to the front.

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Comments

  • eugeneabes
    June 15, 2008
    eugeneabes
    Ive watched this film for quite a number of times and still enjoying it!
  • mandie501
    February 6, 2007
    mandie501
    This is a really good movie and not just for girls with geena kicking lots of butt and sam doing his usual shouting and swearin .... this should be on your MUST WATCH film list EXCELLENT
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