An excellent script and lead performances from Steve Martin and Michael Caine
Frank Oz certainly puts a stamp on the film because this two-hander does look at feel like the similarly-winning 1991 film What About Bob?
If you wonder who the artist is—director vs. cinematographer – at least here- this is shot by long-time Fassbinder and Scorsese DP Michael Ballhaus and although there are nice shots of the on location shoot in the south of France—well—yeah—this is not Scorsese or Fassbinder
Filled with hilarious sketches. Martin has a solo improvisational scene at the jail that is fairly famous – but for my money- the best sketch is when Caine tests Martin’s legs (he’s pretending to be numb from the waist-down). When they cut to Martin’s attempts at restraining his pain—it’s quite possibly his strongest achievement on screen as an actor
I’ve never seen it but a remake of a David Niven Marlon Brando film Bedtime Story
I’m not sure why- but Michael Caine has so many really strong male/male two-hander films. The Man Who Would Be King, Sleuth, Death Trap
Caine is great as the smooth James Bond-like con artist – Martin as the crass American boob
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