Fatal Beauty (1987)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Tom Holland

Writers:

Bill Svanoe (story)
Hilary Henkin (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

30 October 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

An earthquake is about to hit L.A. It's called Detective Rita Rizoli.

Plot:

Rita Rizzoli is a narcotics cop with a plethora of disguises. When a drug shipment is hijacked, the...

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | Police | Switchblade | Undercover | Pimp

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Whoopi Goldberg	...	Rita Rizzoli
Sam Elliott	...	Mike Marshak
Rubén Blades	...	Carl Jimenez (as Ruben Blades)
Harris Yulin	...	Conrad Kroll
John P. Ryan	...	Lt. Kellerman
Jennifer Warren	...	Cecile Jaeger
Brad Dourif	...	Leo Nova
Mike Jolly	...	Earl Skinner
Charles Hallahan	...	Deputy Getz
David Harris	...	Raphael
James LeGros	...	Zack Jaeger (as James Le Gros)
Neill Barry	...	Denny Miflin
Mark Pellegrino	...	Frankenstein
Clayton Landey	...	Jimmy Silver
Fred Asparagus	...	Delgadillo

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Germany:18 | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-18 (TV rating) | Australia:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Norway:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

CST Telecommunications

Trivia:

Cher was initially signed to star.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Delgadillo says "Look at this. They even stamped the package wrong!" his mouth doesn't match what he is saying.

Quotes:

Bartender: Do you want a glass?
Rita Rizzoli: Do I want a glass? No, wrap it in a taco dumb motherf - -er, yes I want a glass.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Century of Black Cinema (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Casanova

I like it more than the critics.

Hard-edged, savage action movie in which Whoopi Goldberg is cast as a narcotics cop determined to nail a smug, pompous kingpin (Harris Yulin) masquerading as a legitimate businessman. One main problem is, the kingpin has a hired gun (Sam Elliott) who keeps shadowing the cop. Another problem is, two deranged and trigger-happy creeps (Brad Dourif, Mike Jolly) looking to muscle in on the action are shooting everybody in sight.

A post-"Color Purple" failure for Whoopi that is the recipient of some truly scathing reviews. In truth, I don't think it's that bad - it's fairly entertaining on a visceral level - with TONS of gunfire - though hampered by truly repulsive characters. In terms of writing, some of that dialogue IS truly stupid - and the entire plot is very clichéd and uninspired. It was worth catching to see the always twitchy Dourif in action, and for a sympathetic performance in a bit part by Catherine Blore. There are a number of familiar character faces in the film, and a cameo by Cheech Marin.

Film justifies its violence by hammering across a heavy-handed anti-drug agenda. Interesting that this would be director Tom Holland's follow-up to his great horror movie "Fright Night" (he worked with Dourif again in the following year's "Child's Play").

I don't hate it but at the same time it's not the greatest showcase for Whoopi's talent either.

5/10