I love when the kid steals Rug's rug and he runs down the alley with the little dog barking at his heels. Snappy dialogue all the way thru, and excellent camera angles - the best Hammett to make it to the screen.
It isn't just the dialogue, it's how well it's spoken by every however-minor actor. Take David Darlow's delivery in that scene with Lazarre's men and Tom - it's a model for how that should be done, with perfect expressions and small movements that complement the lines. That exchange begins with "Got any money?" and it's got as sophisticated yet hard-boiled a performance as you'll ever see and hear.
Marcia Gay Harden's best work was on this film, and she'll never be bettered for Chandler-Hammettese by anyone else - equaled, maybe, but never bettered.
Bernie C'mon Tom, its not like that at all. Wasn't my idea. She'll sleep with anyone, you know that. She's even tried to teach me a thing or two about bed artistry. Can you believe that--my own sister! Some crackpot idea about saving me from my friends. . .
Bernie laughs pleasantly.
She's a sick twist all right. I guess some guys like that.
7 comments:
I love when the kid steals Rug's rug and he runs down the alley with the little dog barking at his heels. Snappy dialogue all the way thru, and excellent camera angles - the best Hammett to make it to the screen.
Genius.
- Maybe it was injuns what did it.
- Eye-tyes, more like.
"What's the disposition?"
"We're ahead, for the nonce."
"What's the score?"
"4 to 1. Dana Cudahey went up with the house."
"Theirs?"
"One burned."
"The others?"
"Lead....The old man's still an artist with the Thompson."
"Lazarre said he's sorry about this. It's just been getting out of hand"
"Yeah"
"He likes you, Tom. He said we didn't have to break anything."
"Yeah. Okay Tell him no hard feelings."
"Christ, Tom. He knows that"
Is there any dialogue in that film which isn't quotable?
It isn't just the dialogue, it's how well it's spoken by every however-minor actor. Take David Darlow's delivery in that scene with Lazarre's men and Tom - it's a model for how that should be done, with perfect expressions and small movements that complement the lines. That exchange begins with "Got any money?" and it's got as sophisticated yet hard-boiled a performance as you'll ever see and hear.
Marcia Gay Harden's best work was on this film, and she'll never be bettered for Chandler-Hammettese by anyone else - equaled, maybe, but never bettered.
Tom
Leo gets your sister, what're you selling me?
Bernie
C'mon Tom, its not like that at all. Wasn't
my idea. She'll sleep with anyone, you know
that. She's even tried to teach me a thing or
two about bed artistry. Can you believe that--my
own sister! Some crackpot idea about saving me
from my friends. . .
Bernie laughs pleasantly.
She's a sick twist all right. I guess some
guys like that.
Tom
She speaks highly of you.
Bernie shrugs.
Bernie
Yeah, well, you stick by your family.
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