The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)

67% of critics liked it
(52 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(58,885 ratings)

An ordinary woman discovers that her life was not always ordinary in this action thriller. Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) is a typical, well-mannered single mother working as a schoolteacher when she isn't looking after her children. Nothing on the surface would seem to be remarkable about Samantha's… More An ordinary woman discovers that her life was not always ordinary in this action thriller. Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) is a typical, well-mannered single mother working as a schoolteacher when she isn't looking after her children. Nothing on the surface would seem to be remarkable about Samantha's life, but every once in a while she has vague memories and unexplained impulses that don't add up with her current life experience; she has scars but no idea of how they got there, she suddenly displays a deadly talent for knife-throwing while chopping vegetables for dinner, and when she sees a deer, she suddenly attacks it with her bare hands. When an auto accident and a television news broadcast stirs some more uncomfortable memories, Samantha hires private investigator Mitch Hennessey (Samuel L. Jackson) to look into her past and see what he can find. Mitch learns that Samantha isn't really Samantha after all -- her name is Charley and she used to be a professional assassin with a secret government intelligence program. After a severe head injury, Charley developed a case of amnesia, and in time she developed her new personality as Samantha. However, her old boss has kept tabs on her, and now that it looks as if the old Charley is starting to come out again, he sends a pair of hit men after her to see to it that she doesn't remember anything else; soon Samantha and Mitch are on the run, trying to outdistance the killers as they get to the bottom of Charley's secret life. The Long Kiss Goodnight was directed by Renny Harlin, husband of leading lady Geena Davis; this was their second project together, following Cutthroat Island, released the previous year. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr.
Directed By: Renny Harlin
Written By: Shane Black
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Oct 11, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Feb 6, 2001
Studio: New Line Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Frankly, if I had to see either Harlin-Davis movie again, I'd opt for the klutzy unpleasantness of Cutthroat Island over the efficient if equally stupid unpleasantness of this 1996 release.
David Ansen, Newsweek
The Long Kiss Goodnight is the fall's best summer movie.
Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
Like the heroine, the movie has two personalities that smartly coexist.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
There's an excessive amount of excess -- a mind-numbing plurality of firearm battles, vehicular explosions and brutally frank sexual talk.
Todd McCarthy, Variety
"The Long Kiss Goodnight" has a jokey good time with its outlandish pyrotechnics and offbeat character interplay.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Mr. Black's screenplay is mean-spirited, but it earns its keep with sharp, sarcastic dialogue and ingenious ways of setting up this story.
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks
The surprise and also the disappointment of The Long Kiss Goodnight is much simpler, and less politically inflected: it's badly made, or too close to badly made.
, Film4
Hectic stuff with a spectacular finale.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The kind of movie in which a dozen bad guys with an automatic weapon in each hand couldn't hit a lake if they were standing at the bottom of it, to steal the screenplay's best wiseacre remark.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
The only saving graces are Davis's stripped-down, mean-as-a-wildcat portrayal of the Uzi-toting Charly, and Jackson's engagingly ineffectual turn.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
I like The Long Kiss Goodnight. I thought it was a lot of fun, and the dialogue was funny and didn't make me wince in pain.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
This is pretty standard action hero stuff, with the exception of having Gena Davis take on the traditional male role. And she's not bad!
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
He's a hack, but I love Renny Harlin!
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina
underrated action in drag
Fred Topel, About.com
Solid action movie. Davis kicks ass, Jackson is in his usual form. Could have used more family implications, but does okay.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lady D

It's not exactly a mind blowing film nor is it particularly taxing on the brain, but it's an enjoyable watch and an enjoyable one for Geena Davis
Jens S

The premise of the person without a memory, who slowly discovers unexpected abilities may not be entirely new. Director Renny Harlin spins an exciting and tongue-in-cheek action thriller around it, though. While some of the action is a bit over the top and highly unrealistic, the film… More
The premise of the person without a memory, who slowly discovers unexpected abilities may not be entirely new. Director Renny Harlin spins an exciting and tongue-in-cheek action thriller around it, though. While some of the action is a bit over the top and highly unrealistic, the film is too fast and too much fun to really complain about it. Especially Samuel L. Jackson brings the necessary humor into play, so it's not easy to stay mad at the film's flaws for very long. The showdown is particularly spectacular and completes an all around fun and entertaining action film.
Dean M

This action film is almost familiar to 1988's <i>Die Hard</i> because of the Christmas Eve. Geena Davis's performance and her action sequences are cool as a schoolteacher turned tough lethal government assassin after she returned from suffering her amnesia. She… More
This action film is almost familiar to 1988's <i>Die Hard</i> because of the Christmas Eve. Geena Davis's performance and her action sequences are cool as a schoolteacher turned tough lethal government assassin after she returned from suffering her amnesia. She looks great in her underwear and the pacing is real! And with Samuel L. Jackson come off as nostalgically genuine and charming. There are some real laugh out loud moments in this movie, though, and there's a sense of joy in the script and the performances, as if they were having a good time. Director Renny Harlin knows how to construct action scenes, check out the train station scene and a tanker on the run heart pumper. But it's with Shane Black's screenplay that the film primarily entertains.
Thomas J

This reminded me how much I like Geena Davis! Even in an action movie with Samuel Jackson, she is the one that shines. Very good action movie with surprise performances as result of some good writing.
Conner R

The female counterpart to Jason Bourne. This is certainly a lot of fun and you get a ton of great action and one liners. My only complaint was the random need for a child to represent the good side of Geena Davis. Other than that it's pretty cool and Shane Black's writing… More
The female counterpart to Jason Bourne. This is certainly a lot of fun and you get a ton of great action and one liners. My only complaint was the random need for a child to represent the good side of Geena Davis. Other than that it's pretty cool and Shane Black's writing works amazingly well with Renny Harlin's kooky atmosphere. You've gotta love Samuel L. Jackson in his prime, especially when it's paired with the Geena Davis' femme fatale.
Al S

It's one incredibly fun and mind-blowing action-packed extravaganza from beginning to end. It delivers big time with spectacular action sequences, outrageous humor and heart-pounding suspense. A smart, stylish, wickedly funny and exhilarating movie. I so totally loved this film,… More
It's one incredibly fun and mind-blowing action-packed extravaganza from beginning to end. It delivers big time with spectacular action sequences, outrageous humor and heart-pounding suspense. A smart, stylish, wickedly funny and exhilarating movie. I so totally loved this film, with all its cool, humor, outrageous absurdity and great cast. It's just a fantastic joy-ride that is excellent entertainment. The perfect combination of an espionage thriller, action-adventure and buddy-comedy. Samuel L. Jackson and Geena Davis are terrific, they are defiantly the team that cant be beat.
Thomas B

Not particularly smart or astounding but a good action flick. Full review later
Anthony L

Another great Shane Black film!
Luke B

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… More
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 Black 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.
Aaron N

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 pants… More
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 pants 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.
Mason W

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 the… More
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 the past back to life.
Jason S

A really good action flick. There isn't much more to it than that and there really doesn't have to be.
Tim S

Samuel L. is funny as shit.
danny d

this was an ok action flick. i thought gena davis was very good and it kept you entertained the whole way through.
Film C

i have this on video and i thought it was a really good film ,funny action packed, guns, and explosions it is worth a watch and is funny
moon r

a decent actioner that actually might be re-discovered and then fully enjoyed...although long after it will do any of the principals involved any good...welcome to planet earth
Candy R

Geena lost her memory that she was an assasin. It's good.
Dean !

A good fun action film quite similar to the Bourne Identity, XXX in some ways as Geena Davis plays a ruthless assassin she never knew she was!
Michael S

I love the action in this film. Just a lot of brainless fun!
xGary X

The usual tasteless and trashy action nonsense from Shane Black has his usual misogynistic overtones, but the dual personality sub plot and Samuel L. Jackson make it watchable in a car wreck kind of way.