Suicide Kings

Reviewed by: Scotus Antonovich

November 27, 1998

Return

I was bored Thanksgiving eve, so I rented Suicide Kings.

I had heard of the movie, but didn't get a chance to see it before it left the theaters. The plot centers on the kidnapping of a young man's fiancée for $2 million. The young guy, along with three friends, end up kidnapping an ex-mob boss to make him pay the $2 million for the guys. From there the friends can't seem to do anything right, and the mob boss plays them like fiddles.

Christopher Walken was fantastic as the ex-mob boss. He was very cold and calculating. The viewer could almost see Walken dissecting his kidnappers. Simply marvelous. The friends all had good lines and seemed to come across well enough, even if they were a bit one dimensional. But then, a lot of people are before they hit 30. Leary was wickedly funny as the employee of Walken who comes looking for him. He added the needed comedic moments and hit his stride as a dutiful mob attendant.

Technically, the movie wasn't anything new. The direction and camerawork were all very competent as to not get in the way of the movie. In this, it did rather well

In sum, a great entertainment with an ensemble cast in which no one particular actor dominates the film. Also, I defy anyone to guess how it ends. Truly great stuff.

 

1