• 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
  • Recommend but doesn’t touch the top 10 of 1988