Dead Reckoning

This is essentially a classic Humphrey Bogart in the noir style, and I mean that in a good way. He says most things in voiceover, and even if you think he actually only has one expression, he in fact manages to act certain scenes with just his face. The script isn't brilliant, but it's good enough to keep you entertained until the very end. (03/23/2018)

"I forgot to tell you, I don't trust anybody—especially women!" Bogie would love a woman he could shrink down to pocket-size. When heading out for a chat with friends, he’d take her to his favorite restaurant (just to keep tabs on her), let her scamper across the table among coffee cups, and when he got home, he’d wave her back to her original size and beauty. But since he knows that’s not physically possible, he settles for "reserved" trust. While frolicking with a femme fatale might heal the bruises and scrapes from a beating within 36 hours, you still have to be ready to shout "Geronimo" at the right moment. The decent genre direction through a nostalgic "confession" is slightly dulled by melodramatic elements, but by the end, you’re still faced with the reality that Bogart holds all the cards in his pocket. (03/07/2023)