I never heard of this film and I read on Wikipedia that, sadly, it bombed at the box office, but I saw most of it on the Laff Channel yesterday (January 19, 2019) and was amazed.
Having missed the beginning I didn't know the two lead actors. I thought I recognized Pesci but the Don Johnson "Miami Vice"-era length hair and especially the blond dye or highlights threw me. I thought the actor I now know was Christian Slater was Ethan Hawke. Anyway, once you get used to the kinda silly blond locks Pesci's performance creeps up on you and becomes increasingly intense but consistent and occasionally a little scary. He is also moving and when you see his face in reaction shots, looking into his eyes, watching his sad little smiles, and hearing the determination in his voice as he sets upon a course of action that he knows may be his last, it is really transfixing. I wondered why he had not been nominated for Best Actor for his role, but now that I read the film bombed I guess that explains that. Christian Slater and Victoria Abril are excellent in their supporting roles.
I am not sure why this was on Laff TV because it is quite serious and tense until the post-pseudo climactic "ending" with the printed explanations of what happened to the characters of Jericho and William, and the true Hollywood satire with a guest star as himself reading for the role of "Jericho" in a film to be made about Pesci's character's antics. The contretemps end amicably and amusingly as Pesci walks the guest around and explains how the lines SHOULD be read.
Having missed the beginning I didn't know the two lead actors. I thought I recognized Pesci but the Don Johnson "Miami Vice"-era length hair and especially the blond dye or highlights threw me. I thought the actor I now know was Christian Slater was Ethan Hawke. Anyway, once you get used to the kinda silly blond locks Pesci's performance creeps up on you and becomes increasingly intense but consistent and occasionally a little scary. He is also moving and when you see his face in reaction shots, looking into his eyes, watching his sad little smiles, and hearing the determination in his voice as he sets upon a course of action that he knows may be his last, it is really transfixing. I wondered why he had not been nominated for Best Actor for his role, but now that I read the film bombed I guess that explains that. Christian Slater and Victoria Abril are excellent in their supporting roles.
I am not sure why this was on Laff TV because it is quite serious and tense until the post-pseudo climactic "ending" with the printed explanations of what happened to the characters of Jericho and William, and the true Hollywood satire with a guest star as himself reading for the role of "Jericho" in a film to be made about Pesci's character's antics. The contretemps end amicably and amusingly as Pesci walks the guest around and explains how the lines SHOULD be read.