Gary Fleder directs Andy Garcia, Christopher Walken and Gabrielle Anwar in this dark crime ensemble comedy where a slick gangster needs to wrap up his affairs quickly after a mob boss puts a hit out on his crew.

As a teenager this was in heavy rotation on my VCR. A derided flop in the States, I feel (with no real evidence) it was more fondly embraced and financially successful in the UK. Just like Reservoir Dogs was when it banked more cash in its original run over here than across the Atlantic. It has quotable dialogue, quirky characters, easy cool and a hip soundtrack. Now the dust has long since settled and not many (if any) of the kneejerk Tarantino rip-offs have stood the test of time, this stellar cast and hilariously nasty script actually shines brightly. It looks fantastic and moves with a purpose. Garcia is only this in sync with his material in The Godfather III and here. Treat Williams and Walken are outlandishly memorable monstrosities. The living thing is both meta and full of heart. Sheen but breathing. Boat drinks, Jimmy The Saint!

10

Perfect Double Bill: Con Air (1997)

I write regular features about live comedy for British Comedy Guide here https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/bobby_carroll/features/ and my own Substack https://substack.com/@edinburghlaughterbulletin