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Best Seller (1987)
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Register or login to rate this title User Rating: 6.3/10 (1,195 votes)
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Overview
Director:John Flynn
Writer:Larry Cohen (written by)
Release Date:25 September 1987 (USA) more
Genre:Drama / Thriller more
Tagline:A hired assassin. A cop turned author. Together they're rewriting the rulebook on the Mob. more
Plot Summary:Hit man Cleve approaches writer/cop Dennis about a story for his next book: How Cleve made a living... more
Plot Synopsis:This plot synopsis is empty. Add a synopsis
Plot Keywords:1970s / Bomb / Father Daughter Relationship / Flashback Sequence / Gangster more
Awards:2 nominations more
User Comments:Cult Movies 6 more
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Cast (Cast overview, first billed only)
James Woods ... Cleve
Brian Dennehy ... Dennis Meechum
Victoria Tennant ... Roberta Gillian
Allison Balson ... Holly Meechum
Paul Shenar ... David Madlock
George Coe ... Graham
Anne Pitoniak ... Mrs. Foster
Mary Carver ... Cleve's mother
Sully Boyar ... Monks
Kathleen Lloyd ... Annie
Charles Tyner ... Cleve's Father (as Harold Tyner)
E. Brian Dean ... Taxi Driver
Jeffrey Josephson ... Pearlman
Edward Blackoff ... Thorn
Branscombe Richmond ... Longshoreman #1
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Create a character page for: CleveDennis MeechumRoberta GillianHolly MeechumDavid MadlockGrahamMrs. FosterCleve's motherMonksAnnieCleve's FatherTaxi DriverPearlmanThornLongshoreman #1-----------more...
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Additional Details
Parents Guide:Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:110 min / UK:95 min
Country:USA
Language:English
Color:Color
Aspect Ratio:1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:Dolby
Certification:USA:R (certificate #28242) / Finland:K-18 / France:-12 / Norway:18 / Sweden:15 / UK:18 / West Germany:16 / Australia:M / Iceland:16
Filming Locations:Los Angeles, California, USA more
MOVIEmeter: No change since last week why?
Company:Hemdale Film more
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Fun Stuff
Quotes:David Madlock: [Lt. Meechum is admiring his collection] First editions, every one of them. more
Soundtrack:REVERIE more
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User Comments (Comment on this title)
2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful:-
Cult Movies 6, 6 November 1998
Author: Carlos Xavier from Australia
6. BEST-SELLER (action, 1987) In 1972, Policeman Meechum (Brian Dennehy) survives an armed robbery, which in turn inspires him to write a book about his ordeal. It becomes a best seller but struggling to keep writing he stays a cop. Years later he meets Cliff (James Woods), a mysterious loner who saves his life. Cliff knows many personal things about Meechum's life and tells him that he can provide him with an assured best seller. In order for Meechum to believe him, Cliff takes him on a tour of his previous work as a hit-man. An uneasy alliance is formed, as Cliff's darkest secrets reveal his own.
Critique: There are many reasons to like Best-Seller. It has a good, entertaining premise (a rogue assassin on the loose), the moody cinematography (another Adam Greenberg job), and displays a strong performance from the always reliable Brain Dennehy. But best of all, it has what I consider to be James Woods' best role thus far.
This capriciously underrated 1-time character-actor (shy leading man) has given excellent performances in many films including: the sleazy TV-producer in David Cronenberg's interesting, albeit obscured masterpiece 'Videodrome' (1983), his red-neck southerner in 'The Onion Field' (1979-his breakthrough film), and in Oliver Stone's sadly neglected 'Salvador' (1986- for which he received an Academy Nominee).
In most of his films, Woods has specialized in playing low-life has-beens, who have few redeeming qualities. The only fault I saw in his earlier roles was immaturity, and the lack thereof of making his characters work. In Best-Seller, he plays it cool. The character of Cliff knows what he wants and how to get it, and proves himself worthy of Meechum's respect. What better actor to give us a tour through the life of a criminal, hit-man, sleaze-ball, all-nice guy?
QUOTES: Cliff: "Will power is what distinguishes the amateur from the professional. Do you have it Dennis? Will power?..Let's hope so."
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