Kiss of Death (1995) User Reviews (69)

Not bad for a makeover.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 16 April 2006]

Ben Hecht's original story had enough strength to be carried over into this successful remake, aided by a strong cast. I'm not sure how much the modernization of the script adds to it, but it's worth seeing.

Caruso is a con who, out of concern for his family, rats on some friends when the prosecutor promises him freedom. Things go legally awry and Caruso finds himself and his family being hunted by the chief thug (Nicholas Cage) while the police (Stanley Tucci and Steven Jackson) provide a simulacrum of protection. Finally Caruso takes matters in his own hands, confronts Cage in a night club, and is beaten like hell before the cops arrive and put things back in order.

The original script depicted what now seems like an old-fashioned model of the justice system. Good cops vs. bad guys, with the good guys hampered by laws that are too lax. This is brought up to date in that EVERYBODY is corrupt in one way or another, with a few exceptions. Caruso is family-oriented, though a con, and his family and Jackson have their hearts in the right place. But the agents of social control -- both federal and state -- are petty and bickering. Tucci, the head cop, isn't really interested in bad guy Cage. He wants a federal judgeship or judgehood or judgedom. It's a much more cynical model of the justice system.

The brutality quotient is cubed. Somebody's brains get shot out and splattered all over somebody. Or a suspected snitch is beaten to death with fists and his blood splashes against the wall.

I think the earlier version is superior. For one thing, it was an original, not a copy. And some of the performances here don't measure up to the original's. Kathryn Erbe -- great name in German, by the way -- is a pretty and talented actress but she does not exude the winsome cheerful devotion of the sexy, stupid, beautiful Colleen Gray. David Caruso is a more convincing New Yorker than Louisvilleian Victor Mature was, but his performance is understated compared to Mature's nervous clumsiness. Some of the roles are just differently interpreted. Where Brian Donleavy was a stolidly ethical prosecutor, Stanley Tucci is transparently reptilian. Who would believe Tucci when he claims to be "a man of honor"? And, of course, there is nothing in this remake that looks even vaguely like Richard Widmark's Tommy Udo in his wolfman wig, nor any scene quite as terrible as Widmark's pushing the old lady strapped in her wheelchair down the stairs. At the time THAT was more shocking a scene that all the current bloodshed and poundings put together. That's what I mean by "original."

Still, not a bad movie on its own.

Solid Crime Thriller with Plenty of Atmosphere and Offbeat Humor

[bob-790-196018 · 7/10 · 30 March 2011]

I think the best way to approach this movie is on its own terms rather than as a remake of the 1940s film. In any case, it merely follows the general story outline of the earlier picture. What makes it altogether new is Richard Price's screenplay, Barbet Schroeder's direction, a great lineup of actors, and location shooting in some of New York City's seediest and most squalid areas.

Along with the great locations, what really provides the atmosphere is Price's writing. Once again he shows his down to the ground knowledge of the characters, mannerisms, and lingo of the creeps and hoodlums in the big city underworld, and the law enforcement people who deal with them. And there is also Price's trademark offbeat humor.

While the earlier film gave us Richard Widmark as a really scary psycho, in this later film Richard Price has given us Little Junior Brown, a bulked-up killer with a child's mind and an abiding faith in the nostrums of New Age philosophy.

What a delight when Little Junior, fresh from committing murder, asks our hero to take the next day off so they can get together and "talk about life and stuff"! Or when he urges him to settle on an acronym that will give shape to his identity. (Little Junior's is B-A-D--for "Balls, Attitude, Direction.")

Nicholas Cage is often accused of playing over the top, but in the case of Little Junior, over the top is the way to go.

There are also good performances by Stanley Tucci and Samuel L. Jackson. Tucci excels in portraying charming snakes. When he leers and sneers, it is impossible to keep from watching him.

This movie was really very enjoyable.

A Solid '90s Crime Thriller

[sc8031 · 7/10 · 7 July 2008]

My friend made me watch this and I found it to be a surprisingly entertaining movie. It's a remake of a 1940s film noir, but I haven't seen that one. Here David Caruso plays the typical gangster-gone-straight in order to support his new family, but one of his friends (played by Michael Rappaport) pulls him in for one last deal which (unsurprisingly) screws him over big time.

The casting here is absolutely phenomenal. The performances by all the lead actors are some of their best: Nicholas Cage, Stanley Tucci, David Caruso and Michael Rappaport all bring serious color to the story. It is clear here that the careful casting makes a big difference. I'd like to say one performance in particular stands out (maybe Nicholas Cage, in one of his best roles ever) but everyone pulls their weight. Michael Rappaport, despite staying in his typical character role, manages to play the most loathsome character in the film! Even the villains have more humanity to them than he does...

The story is good too. It's not original, but very well done. Many classic crime twists are provided in ways one doesn't expect and there are some plot points that are only alluded to, not blatantly shown (i.e. the reason certain characters get knocked off, etc.). It also gives us a good rundown on the inside of a corrupt court system which only protects ex-cons if there's a profit to be made.

And to top it off, despite the criminal element and violence, there is a cool sense of humor to several scenes. Little Junior's (Nicholas Cage) mourning scene stands out as a highlight. And then the way the movie ends, you'd think you were watching Beethoven or something. Hee hee, and Stanley Tucci was in that one too!

It's not some critically acclaimed showboating from the '90s, like American Beauty, The Usual Suspects, and so on, but it is a solid little '90s period piece.

6.5

Solid crime thriller

[bob the moo · 23 January 2002]

Ex-con Jimmy Kilmartin agrees to drive a truck of stolen cars as a favour to a friend. Whilst on the job he gets caught but refuses to role over on the others involved. Whilst in prison his wife is killed in a car crash and Jimmy leaves prison, bitter but with a determination to move on. However NYPD officer Calvin wants to use Kilmartin to get close to Little Junior Brown and get evidence to shut him down.

This was one of several vehicles that was planned to turn David Caruso from a TV hit to a big screen star - as we know, it didn't work out that way. However the story is pretty solid, it doesn't break new ground and there's nothing outside of the usual crime thriller plot to surprise you but it's really quite good. At times it's a little dull because it is so straight forward but it's mostly entertaining.

Caruso, for all his current lack of success, is actually very good. The problem is that he's good by doing the same "NY Irish tough but fair" role that he did in NYPD Blue, King of New York, Bodycount and most films he's done! It's good but I don't think he can do anything else. Jackson has presence as he always does and the support cast is really well filled out with people like Helen Hunt, Stanley Tucci, Rapaport, Philip Baker Hall, Ving Rhames. Nicolas Cage's Little Junior is a mixed bag. At some points he is effective but for the most part he's horribly OTT and hammy. His character is full of ticks and eccentricities that at the end of the day that's all Cage has to do.

Overall this is a solid thriller with no surprises. Caruso fans (like me) will like it regardless because it's Caruso doing his usual role. But others may not be so easily made to overlook the weaknesses.

Not flashy, but believable. The old tale of a convict getting harassed after he serves his time.

[dilbertsuperman · 7/10 · 6 October 2007]

America has the best justice money can buy- meaning gentry that pay for the privilege of justice receive it and normal citizens will see justice only by pure accident. Here is a normal citizen who served his time but continues to be harassed by police- a common tactic of pigs- since they are too stupid to be detectives- they make their informants do all the dirty work of investigation under penalty of return to prison on some lies and setups-ya know- who they gonna believe? Me or you? This is the framework this movie operates in- the reality that most cops and lawyers are total scum that need two neat in the back of the head, and justice is a fairy tale in America.

Add in a little action jackson moments to spice it up and we have a watchable movie that is reasonably OK- not stellar- but watchable to the finish and a decent job of acting by our lead. This is one of the few action flicks that actually tries to do some acting- our lead does a great job- his supporting actors do OK- but not great.

All in all- I would watch this movie for a matinée by myself. One of the humorous things in this movie is you see Nicholas Cage bulked up as a guido in a disco.

A great thriller is "Kiss of Death"

[dhaufrect-1 · 7/10 · 19 May 2015]

"Kiss of Death" is a great thriller from 1995. It is directed by Barbet Schroeder. And it is written by Eleazar Lipsky with screenplay by Ben Hecht. It is currently available on NetFlix Instant Download Streaming. Ex-con Jimmy Kilmartin agrees to drive a truck of stolen cars as a favor to a friend. Whilst on the job he gets caught but refuses to role over on the others involved. Whilst in prison his wife is killed in a car crash and Jimmy leaves prison, bitter but with a determination to move on. However NYPD officer Calvin wants to use Kilmartin to get close to Little Junior Brown and get evidence to shut him down. This was one of several vehicles that was planned to turn David Caruso from a TV hit to a big screen star - as we know, it didn't work out that way. However the story is pretty solid, it doesn't break new ground and there's nothing outside of the usual crime thriller plot to surprise you but it's really quite good. At times it's a little dull because it is so straight forward but it's mostly entertaining. Caruso, for all his current lack of success, is actually very good. The problem is that he's good by doing the same "NY Irish tough but fair" role that he did in NYPD Blue, King of New York, Bodycount and most films he's done! It's good but I don't think he can do anything else. Jackson has presence as he always does and the support cast is really well filled out with people like Helen Hunt, Stanley Tucci, Rapaport, Philip Baker Hall, Ving Rhames. Nicolas Cage's Little Junior is a mixed bag. At some points he is effective but for the most part he's horribly OTT and hammy. His character is full of ticks and eccentricities that at the end of the day that's all Cage has to do. Overall this is a solid thriller with no surprises. Caruso fans (like me) will like it regardless because it's Caruso doing his usual role. But others may not be so easily made to overlook the weaknesses.

Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

[hitchcockthelegend · 7/10 · 29 May 2013]

Kiss of Death is directed by Barbet Schroeder and collectively written by Ben Hecht, Charles Lederer, Eleazar Lipsky and Richard Price. It stars David Caruso, Nicolas Cage, Samuel L. Jackson, Helen Hunt, Ving Rhames, Stanley Tucci, Kathryn Erbe, Michael Rapaport and Anthony Heald. Music is by Trevor Jones and cinematography by Luciano Tovoli.

Reformed ex-con Jimmy Kilmartin (Caruso) reluctantly helps out his cousin transporting stolen cars but gets caught and ends up taking the fall for the whole caper. Back in prison and missing his wife and child, Jimmy gets offered a lifeline if he is prepared to go undercover with the police to bring down psychotic crime boss Little Junior Brown (Cage).

A loose remake of the excellent 1947 film noir of the same name, Schroeder's Kiss of Death is slightly better than the iffy reputation afforded it. Yes it's more solid than anything resembling truly compelling, but it wears its noir heart on its sleeve and is very well performed by an impressive cast.

Caruso's Kilmartin is a classic noir protagonist, a man who tries to go straight but gets dragged into a world of crime and shifty undercover machinations after doing one honest intention favour. From the point he agrees to help out Ronnie Gannon (Rapaport a jumping bean performance), he loses what he holds most dear and continually gets pulled from pillar to post by everyone around him. He's basically a good guy that fate has dealt a deadly hand, even when he gets a second chance at happiness it's not long before the door knocks and he's thrust into a deadly undercover game where he will be lucky to escape with his life intact.

A lot has been made of TV star Caruso's unsuccessful attempt at breaking into films, with some believing that his performance here is mostly to blame. Yet in the context of a noir protagonist his performance is perfectly good, in fact it's a very subtle turn that isn't short on brooding intensity. That he is overshadowed by the likes of Cage (wonderfully on full tilt overdrive as a nut-case) and Jackson (calm yet assured presence) is no bad thing, especially since both come with noir infected ticks (Jackson has a continuous weeping eye/Cage has a phobia about metal in his mouth). Caruso does good here, bringing the character to life without histrionics, he helps the audience understand his frustration as he spins in his vortex of disharmony.

Nobody is done any favours by a screenplay that doesn't take chances, and at times it comes close to standing still in the mid-section, while the climax is a little underwhelming. But for a piece of pulpy neo-noir it has enough about it to make it worth a look. 6.5/10

No, I got a better idea. You hate the taste of metal. Well, it's going in your mouth. Open up.

[lastliberal · 7/10 · 7 June 2007]

Everyone is always dissing David Caruso. I think he is alright and he really does a good job in this film. He just wants his life back and wants to take care of his family.

He went to jail and lost his wife (Helen Hunt). He made a deal with the D.A. (Stanley Tucci) and got revenge on the man responsible (Michael Rapaport). But the D.A. is not satisfied. he wants Little Junior (Nicolas Cage). Cage plays one bad mother who kills a federal agent (Ving Rhames) in front of Caruso. That's not enough as the feds get put on the ropes by the mob lawyer (Anthony Heald) and the D.A. makes a deal and drops the case. With the help of a cop (Samuel L. Jackson), he closes the deal and goes off with his new wife (Kathryn Erbe).

That's the story in a nutshell, but it doesn't do justice to what happens. I have seldom seen a neonoir drama with such a list of stars, not to mention eye-candy like Bernadette Penotti.

Worth a watch on Sunday afternoon.

Okay, But Just Too Hard, Too Nasty For Most People

[ccthemovieman-1 · 5/10 · 7 April 2006]

This is not the 1947 film but a 1995 re-make of the famous gangster flick of the same name. While the classic film had one brutally nasty guy, this one has a whole cast full of them....too nasty, frankly. I watched this once and was fairly interested in it. A couple of years later, took a second look and found it so sleazy and I couldn't finish it.

David Caruso, who obtained a lot more fame in television shows than movies, still was interesting for me to watch as he played Victor Mature's old role. Caruso is one of the better actors I've seen when it comes to expressing his emotions just by his facial looks. It seems fashionable to knock him, but I've always been a fan of his work.

Nicholas Cage plays Richard Widmark's psycho character "Tommy Udo" but is called "Little Junior Brown" in this film. Personally, I liked Widmark's performance and character much more.

A lot of people, especially 20-somethings, like these modern tough films with brutal characters and tons of profanity, but the characters in this movie were so nasty that the film never really caught on with anybody.

It certainly had one thing going for it: a very good cast that also included Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Rapaport, Ving Rhames, Stanley Tuccki, Helen Hunt and Kathryn Erbe.

To summarize: it's not that bad: it just has too hard an edge to it.

Starpower & Self-Seriousness Saves

[TwistedContent · 6/10 · 1 February 2021]

"Kiss of Death" is your classic, decent, self-serious 90's crime flick, and one that boasts quite the cast, really, From David Caruso and Nicolas Cage, to Samuel L. Jackson, Ving Rhames, Helen Hunt and Stanley Tucci.

It's kind of funny how the events that IMDb's synopsis describes only start off like half way through the movie. Honest man Jimmy Kilmartin (David Caruso) is pulled in on a job against his better judgement, and gets caught. If he wants to be the dad to his daughter, he must cooperate and help Calvin Hart (Samuel L. Jackson) bring down the bad guys, including the proverbial boss of "Kiss of Death", the psychotic criminal Little Junior Brown, or Nic Cage.

The plot involves less fights and gunfire, and more cop politics than I anticipated, but for once a movie taking itself seriously really helped the flow flaws. At one point Little Junior Brown teaches a lesson to Jimmy about his personal motto, which is "B. A. D. - Balls, Attitude, Direction". Kind of applies to the movie itself, it know what it is, where it goes, and goes there with a strong, unswayable attitude. Overall atmosphere is a little tepid, rarely spinning out in thrills and suspense, and losing momentum towards the end. Nonetheless, good stuff tends to break out when Cage's Junior shows his crazier side and clashes with other characters, being the suspicious angry mob man. Also, is it just me, or every other 80's-90's thriller features at least one scene in a strip club?

Nicolas Cage, the actual show stealer, is once again gifted a character suited for his skills, he portrays the gang's scary guy, ladies man, muscle man, anger issues kind of man. I knew this was supposed to be Caruso's kick start at a film career, that later failed (but he got back in game with CSI: Miami), and, in my opinion, he gave a very decent, weighted main hero's performance. Once again I learn afterwards that someone had been nominated for a Razzie, and this time it was Caruso for the worst new star. Why? I truly don't know, but I've seen way worse. As for Samuel L. Jackson, he has relatively little screen time, Hunt, Rhames and Tucci - even less.

Like with many thrillers back in the day, "Kiss of Death", although appearing dangerous and possibly more atmospheric than half of the crime flicks of the 90's, never truly feels like much is at stake, a soft resolution is reluctantly expected, and a soft resolution is received. Eventually, "Kiss of Death" is just another thriller, just with a top-notch Cage, many exciting names filling the rest of the roles, and a respectable seriousness in the air all the way through. My rating: 6/10.

Nicholas Cage is hilarious in ridiculous crime caper

[The_Void · 5/10 · 1 June 2006]

You want to know the best joke I've heard lately? The Kiss of Death remake. Despite having great source material to work from (that being Henry Hathaway's 1947 original), Barbet Schroeder's film might as well have been a comedy, as the level of incompetence on display really is mind blowing. The film features a whole range of well known stars, and almost every single one of them is heinously miscast. Nicholas Cage delivers the silliest role of his career as the babyish gangster 'Little Junior'. Cage's character is this film's answer to Richard Widmark's Tommy Udo, but unlike Widmark; Cage just can't do the extreme psychotic, and succeeds only in making a fool of himself. Samuel L. Jackson isn't given room to breathe, while Helen Hunt, Michael Rapaport and Ving Rhames are entirely wasted. Perhaps the biggest casting mistake was giving David Caruso the lead role. It's hard not to laugh while he's trying to look hard, and the ginger actor looks completely ridiculous throughout. The only actor in the entire film that has been well cast is Anthony Heald (Silence of the Lambs' Dr Chilton), who has a very small role as a lawyer. Kiss of the Death is one of the clearest examples of casting with the poster in mind that I've ever seen.

The plot follows an unlucky guy who gets arrested after taking 'one last job' as a favour to his friend. While on the inside, he is asked to rat out his accomplices, and but won't. However, he changes his mind when it comes to the end of his sentence (oh yes). What made the original great was that the story was tight, and by concentrating on just a handful of characters; the audience was able to care for their plight. This movie doesn't benefit from that, as the film needs a whole load of characters so that a load of big names can star, and it harms the film as the whole thing is far too convoluted. Not much thought has gone into any scene in this film either, and certain plot threads seem to come out of nowhere; the lead character's relationship with the babysitter being a good example of an idea that the film simply throws at you. You really need to stretch your imagination with this movie, as several things don't make sense; and the fact that all in all, this film is bad ensures that stretching the imagination isn't easy. The ending is similar to that of the original, but here we don't get the impression that it's come about as a result of the characters; and Samuel L. Jackson's last moment on screen throws mud in the eye of the dark tone that a story like this should have. All I can say is that Kiss of Death is actually an apt name for this film, as Barbet Schroeder and co have embraced a good idea and killed it.

Terrific maniacal gangster performance by Nicholas Cage in a suspenseful, smart gangster story with greasy true to life dialogues. Nineties gangster classic.

[imseeg · 9/10 · 22 March 2019]

Seeing Nicholas Cage perform this lunatic gangster boss, with asthma and an aversion to metal spoons, is the biggest gift for me.This actor is truly maniacal in his performance and way more convincing and scary than any rampage of bullets could ever be. This is firstmost an actor's movie, with truly terrific performances from leading (David Caruso) AND suporting actors. I mean, with supporting roles from Philip Baker Hall, Stanley Tucci and Samuel L Jackson things can only become better. And they do!

This movie is a remake of an old classic and the basic story is quite smart and full of sudden plot turns, which kept me on the edge of my seat. The many great true to life dialogues and terrific acting performances lift this movie way up above all the other average gangster movies out there.

The story: a petty criminal (David Caruso) gets busted for car hijacking. He becomes a snitch and in order to save his own ass, he has to frame gangsterboss Nicholas Cage. Will he succeed in bringing gangster boss Nicholas Cage down or will he die trying?

Highly recommended gangster movie for anyone who is into action and cool, maniacal gangsters. They dont get much cooler than this. Anyone who is into great acting performances and true to life dialogues however will be VERY pleased as well, because this is one mother of a great nineties gangster classic!

The low Imdb rating is probably due to the unusual downbeat twists in the story, which wont please the masses. But the true gangster fan will certainly appreciate the finer qualities of this nineties classic!

Solid Film

[damianphelps · 6/10 · 13 December 2020]

This was part of the David Caruso effort to dominate movies as he was tv at the time. Unfortunately for him, and probably us, he never really managed to pull it off. Because he had developed a reputation (valid or not I don't know) as a bit of a *%#^ people seemed happy to see him fail.

Its a shame because he is a good actor and he's good in this. As is the rest of the cast which is full of A and A- actors.

It won't knock your socks off but it will entertain so mission accomplished!

Lousy remake of a movie that wasn't all that good to begin with

[BrianG · 4/10 · 29 June 2000]

I'm a fan of the original 1948 "Kiss of Death," but not for the usual reasons. I know it was the film that made Richard Widmark a star, but why I've never been able to figure out. Widmark's performance was a pure cartoon, a Method actor's idea of what a psycho killer is. For my money, the best performance in that picture was Victor Mature's, by far the best performance of his career. Mature's quiet determination and single-mindedness overhsadows Widmark's snarling and glggling, but recognition for his first-rate performance was lost amidt the accolades for Widmark. This film has the same situation. David Caruso, in Mature's part, is quite good; in my opinion, it's the best performance of his career. Samuel L. Jackson is a New York cop who first dogs Caruso, then grows to like him, is also quite good, as is Ving Rhames as a seemingly unbalanced crime lord. Michael Rappaport is excellent as Caruso's weasely, scheming cousin who gets him in all this trouble in the first place. Nicolas Cage does what he does when he doesn't have a strong director--chews up as much scenery as he possibly can. You never really get a sense of danger from Cage's character, although he's shown doing some despicable things. The whole movie has a sterile, by-the-book feel to it. It's as faceless and impersonal as a Michael Bay movie. See if if you're interested in David Caruso; otherwise, forget it.

Good, underrated crime drama

[secragt · 12 June 2004]

A mostly gripping crime drama with a good script and a great cast. This is David Caruso's best movie by far as a leading man, the reason he left NYPD Blue, and it portended a good career to follow. Well, his movie career tanked but this is still a good character study and underrated neo noir entry. Cage is all breathy snarl and wonderful menace in the flashy sociopath role originated by Richard Widmark. Hard to imagine assembling a backup cast with Ving Rhames, Helen Hunt, Stanley Tucci, Michael Rapaport and Samuel L. Jackson these days on this budget, and they all put in nice turns.

Probably worth a shot if you are a fan of modern noir and gritty crime dramas, though it does peter out a bit with the too-convenient denouement. Cut from the same tough cloth as other sleeper modern noir movies like DEEP COVER and ROMEO IS BLEEDING.

"You F#&$ with the bull, you get the horns." 7.5 / 10 Would rate higher if not for the too-cute ending.

B.A.D.

[=G= · 6/10 · 29 December 2003]

B-movie tough guy Caruso leads the way in this convoluted crime drama as an exfelon-turned-good-guy who gets caught in a web of intrigue between the right and wrong sides of the law. Replete with familiar faces, this film has little else to offer with a kludge of a screen play and atmospherics and camera work right from page one of the Hollywood playbook. An okay late night sofa spud watch for those into B crime flix or fans of Caruso, Cage, Tucci, Jackson, Hunt, Rhames, Rapapaport, Erbe, etc. (B-)

You can't go around hitting the police....

[FlashCallahan · 6/10 · 23 March 2014]

Jimmy Kilmartin's an ex-con who is predictably trying to go straight.

But his friend's life is threatened, so he obliges to do one last job.

The job is for Little Junior Brown, a violent and powerful villain. When things go wrong, Jimmy is left to do the time, and his whole life is turned upside-down.

But the cops won't leave Jimmy alone when he gets out, as they want to get Little Junior....

It s quite funny that David Caruso was trying to be the next big thing in Hollywood. In 1995 he had two pretty high profile releases, this, and the arguably better 'Jade'.

When I first saw this back in 1995, I thought this was a pretty smart crime thriller. It had plot twists aplenty, a good story, and was reminiscent of Carlitos Way. But I was seventeen, and I thought the movie 'Congo' was cutting edge.

Seeing now, years later, its apprentice that the film isn't trying hard enough to be anything different. Its a crime thriller, nothing more, and it's the same old story line of the guy wanting to go straight, but the police won't let up, and neither will the criminals.

It's pretty much the cinematic version of Pacinos line in GF Pt 3, 'just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in'.

The performances are good though, particularly Tucci and Cage.

Caruso wasn't ready for the big time, and the fact that he had such wonderful support, dint help either.

Good, but not as clever as it thinks it is...

The Boris Johnson of movies....

So bad, but I can't stop watching it

[rbfwd · 6/10 · 9 September 2021]

Caruso and Cage what else could we expect? So much cheese, but still kind of fun and rewatchable for a equal amounts of decent moments and laughs. Cage has obviously made some awful choices, and is so badly cast here. But you can't blame him for trying. Blame the filmmakers for putting him out of his league.

Very good movie

[alexb-55137 · 7/10 · 7 May 2020]

Wow it's May 2020 and I can't believe I missed that movie. Great cast, great acting, great story with suspense and intrigue. Overall good movie, you won't let distractions around you, take your eyes off the television screen. Go for it.

So So Remake...So What

[sharkync · 4/10 · 2 May 2005]

Just finished watching this and although I saw it edited on local cable, I can't imagine the unedited version being much better. As others have noted, Cage was unconvincing as "Little Junior" - a mob boss prodigy who takes over the reins upon the demise of his ailing father. NYPD blue stardom aside for Caruso, Helen Hunt's minor role, Jackson giving a so-so performance at best, this movie left a lot to be desired. Fairly standard fair with the old crime operation goes bad, one of the perps gets turned by the cops, rats a few people out, goes undercover, seeks retribution and so on and so forth. If nothing better is on and you have seen all your own movies too many times, give this a try. But don't get your hopes up!

Tale of the Tape

[sol1218 · 6/10 · 11 September 2006]

(There are Spoilers) Trying to go straight and raise a family ex-convict & car thief Jimmy Killmartin, David Caruso, gets back into his chosen profession by trying to keep his sleazy cousin Ronnie, Michael Rapaport, from getting his brains beat out by his demanding and not too kindly boss Little Junior, Nicolas Cage. Ronnie wants Jimmy to drive an 18 wheeler loaded with stolen cars for his chop-shop business. As you would expect Jimmy gets caught by a cop sting that results in one of the NYPD detectives Calvin Hart, Samuel L. Jackson, getting a bullet in his head but miraculously surviving.

Even though Jimmy was set up and deserted by Ronnie he lives by an unbroken and moral code not to rat on any of his fellow hoods. But that's quickly broken when Jimmy's wife Bev, Helen Hunt,is killed in a car crash that Ronnie was responsible for. It turned out that instead of looking after Bev and her and Jimmy's infant daughter Corinna, Lindsay J. Wrinn, Ronnie was taking advantage of Bev while Jimmy was locked up. Also the day she was killed Ronnie got Bev drunk and took her home to his place for both fun and games. Bev waking up from her alcohol-induced sleep ran out of Ronnie's place into her car and, still being under the influence, drove into an oncoming truck killing herself.

Realizing what Ronnie did Jimmy agrees with the State prosecutor Frank Zioli, Stanley Tucci, to rat on his fellow car-thieves at a closed door grand jury hearing implicating even himself in number of car robberies but slyly keeps Ronnie's name out of it. The news of the car-theft gang being ratted out by someone from the inside gets back to Little Junior from his mobbed-up lawyer Jack Gold, Anthony Heald. It's then agreed that it had to be Ronnie, since he was the only member who wasn't indicted, who ratted on his gang and in no time at all Little Junior pay him a friendly visit with a half dozen of his goons that turns out to be Ronnie's funeral.

Having served his time Jimmy is released from Sing Sing Prison but the aggressive State procurator Zioli has plans for him to get Little Junior in a sting operation which will result in him getting a federal judgeship. Going to Little Junior's Baby Cakes strip club Jimmy has a wire planted on him by the police in order to get evidence. Jimmy gets friendly with the mob boss only to be later shaken down in the club's bathroom to see if he's working for the cops or not. Jimmy realizing what was going down threw away his wire before Little Junior and his boys got to him.

As crazy as Little Junior is he still strikes me as a pretty smart cookie being able to sense if he's being set up in a sting operation, with a wiretap. But later he act's so stupidly that he guns down in cold blood an undercover federal agent Omar, Ving Khames, right in front of a shocked Jimmy who's got a wire on him. This in the end can lead to Little Junior to be indited and arrested for murder one. With Jimmy having the incriminating tape it looked like a slam dunk to convict Little Junior but his lawyer Jack Gold comes to his rescue having the evidence thrown out on a technicality; Little junior killed a federal agent thinking that he was hood like himself and even more convincing it was in self-defense! With Little Junior out free Jimmy, who's cover was blown, is now a marked man and with only Det. Hart, who's since become bonded with him, willing to help Jimmy it looks as if it's only a matter of time before he's history. But unknown to Little Junior as well as the double-crossing state procurator Zioli, who promised Jimmy that he and his family would be protected , Jimmy had devised a plan to keep himself alive. And that plan is to use the same method that get him into hot water to get him out of it: the wiretap.

The David Caruso came across completely colorless as Jimmy Killmartin showing in most of his scenes almost no emotion at all. The final scene in the movie showed that he, or Jimmy, also wasn't all that bright even though he miraculously survived a assassination attempt on his life. NIcholas Cage as the mob boss Little Junior has a very serious asthma condition but looks and act in the pink of health. He even lifts heavy weights, as well as showgirls, 15 at a time without even breathing hard. Little Junior also viciously beats people up sometimes to death which is very strenuous exorcise for an asthmatic. With the only sign of his asthma condition is the occasionally asthmatic aerosol spry that he uses to keep himself from possibly suffocating to death.

Samual L. Jackson as Det. Hart is totally wasted as the good cop who risk his job and life in setting up his bosses in the federal government and NYPD. I also found it odd that Jimmy's wiretaps on both Little Junior and prosecutor Zioli had such an impact of bringing them both down to earth, Little Junior in jail and Zioli facing a serious ethics charge, that can also put him behind bars. When the wiretaps were done without a court order not only making them illegal but even criminal on Jimmy's part! Just earlier in the movie a court ordered wiretap that resulted in getting evidence of the murder of a federal agent, by Little Junior, was thrown out of the same courtroom on the most flimsiest of legal technicalities. But these totally illegal and uncalled for wiretaps, on Little Junior and Zioli, were allowed to stand!

Kiss of Death (2poo's)

[mrironle · 2/10 · 9 August 1999]

Kiss of Death. Here's the deal on this steaming stool. They stole scene's, from every other movie of this type for the past 5 years, only to come out with a piece of crap. I like Cage in every thing up till now. He played the stupidest part in the film. There was a few attempts at Tarintino style dialog between the lead and Cage but these all failed miserably. Oh yah the other part that sucked was the "Reservoir Dogs" rain coat wearing, interrogation thing stuck in the middle, just to see if they could shock you. Bull s**t. Bad news. I was bored, the character's were pathetic, unconvincing, and the story was old.

Better film than most give it credit for

[arthurclay · 8/10 · 28 November 2006]

Everyone agrees that the casting was marque. And that it has great source material. But I feel it gets a bum rap with critics. And Nicolas Cage was exactly what the film needed. I thought so then and I think so now. Color, flash, and style. Something out of the ordinary to give it some desperately needed weight. And Cage makes weight. Literally. That is the strongest look I had seen since Stallone did "First Blood, Part II". Cage is a physical bull and it's impressive. I wouldn't have recognized him if I hadn't seen the trailer with his name on it beforehand. If you never saw this, see it. For no other reason than to be scared of Nic Cage. I was.

Going straight is hard to do.

[lib-4 · 6/10 · 24 June 1999]

As Junior Brown, Cage plays one of the memorial parts of his career. He gives Jr. quirks that make him unique. Caruso was way off base thinking he could make the transition from tv to screen, he just doesn't have the charisma to do it. Despite the violence, the movie was better than average.

Good Cast In Very Average Film

[Theo Robertson · 5/10 · 6 February 2003]

Nicolas Cage , Helen Hunt and Samuel L Jackson in a film from the 1990s ! Must be good I thought . Well actually KISS OF DEATH is not all that good ,it`s by no means bad it`s just that the three afore mentioned stars were well known at the time but weren`t stars yet . The film was made around the same time as David Caruso was trying to break into films and is really a star vehicle for him . Helen Hunt is fairly effective for the short screentime she gets , Samuel L Jackson is just okay but Nicolas Cage is far too over the top to be taken seriously and will never make a convincing screen villain which is why you`ll never see him play a baddy these days . As for Caruso ...well can anyone name anything he`s been in apart from NYPD BLUES or JADE ?

Bottom line is KISS OF DEATH is a mediocre remake let down mainly by its star and a very weak script