As Good As It Gets

A Masterpiece!

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

James Spader again plays the yuppie character (Michael)whose comfortable but numb existence is thrown into chaos and then danger after meeting up with insane psycho drifter Rob Lowe (Alex). Michael has money, career prospects and a wealthy fiancée who he really does not love. Early scenes portray him as an intelligent but timid man who is henpecked by his wife to be and outsmarted by a sneaky co-worker in the race for a job promotion.Alex saves Michael from a bar room beating and when they meet up again Alex begins to pull Michael into the dark underbelly of the rich side of Los Angeles. At first Michael is happy to have Alex rearrange his life even managing to help abort his wedding plans in a hilarious scene. But when Alex beats up Michaels rival for the job promotion, claiming that an intoxicated Michael participated in the beating the friendship comes to an end. From this point on the mission for Alex is to destroy Michaels life ultimately framing him for a murder which is shown in an excellent "death by video" scene. Rob Lowes maniacal laughter as he stares into the camera post murder still chills me to the bone.From this point on it is a race to see who stays alive as Michael finally grows the balls that Alex had previously taunted him about.Another highlight is the eclectic musical score ranging from the LA underground club scene (Skinny Puppy, The Nymphs) to Etta James.Finally nice to see that the DVD has restored the bomb rigged to the car petrol tank scene. When the movie first came out on video in the UK the sensor removed this scene in case it was copied by someone!

I just watched this movie on account of being a big Boston Legal, I am a big James Spader fan, and this movie really delivered!Generally, for those who have not seen the film, it is about a guy named Michael Boll played by James Spader, who gets intoxicated at a party and ends up robbing two places late a night with a psychotic good for nothing named Alex played by Rob Lowe. A colleague at Michael Boll's place of work ended up getting beaten up very bad by some thugs, and and Boll think's he was responsible for it as his knuckles were beaten up and bloody and he cannot remember what happened. Throughout the plot, questions are answered about Boll's involvement with the colleague getting beat up, and eventually the character Alex starts to go loony on Boll and try's to frame him for a crime.The rest of the film is a suspenseful ride in which (the big moment for Boston Legal fans) Christian Clemensen comes into the movie, playing Spader's character's brother. The two of them go through the movie alert that someone may be out to kill them, and they have to get the story straight on the crime(s) committed once and for all. Of course, to make the most sense of the movie, you have to see it, but my debrief of what this movie is about should help you determine if you want to see it or not. I have seen a few other of Spader's films (Pretty in Pink and Secretary) and I think this is my favorite so far. Spader puts on a very convincing performance and one thing I have to say about this film is this; it's an enjoyable suspense movie because it does not drag on for too long. One thing I really hate about modern suspense movies is they drag on for too long. Eventually, the suspense and thrill of a modern suspense movie die off because of the movie being dragged on with special effects and crappy acting. Well Bad Influence has neither one of those attributes to make the movie suck. It focuses on a simple and suspenseful story line with questions of the plot answered fast enough that you don't get bored of the movie. This isn't the best movie in history, but it's definitely one worth seeing whether your like suspense movies or not.

Rob Lowe's 1990 thriller (directed by Curtis Hanson - "The Bedroom Window") is no match for the slick and cleverly plotted "Masquerade" which, in 1988, he starred in.Story concerns a nervous young business man named Michael (James Spader) who allows a confident, smooth talking young guy named Alex (Rob Lowe) to greatly change and influence his somewhat stifled existence. Alex turns Michael's life upside down with a series of sadistic games which, eventually leave "Mick" fighting for his life.Spader is competent as the weak-spined account analyst who allows life to dictate to him, while Lowe is certainly well cast as the ultra-cool confidence trickster who seems to get his own way with everyone.David Koepp's story is as "90's" as they come, with plenty of sex, drugs and violence to please today's young audiences. Director Hanson makes sure to stick with the formula too, but the result is a movie that entertains only at surface level. Lacking in the necessary plot intricacies, it opts rather for a hit you in the face style that lacks a certain depth.Not a complete waste of time in any case, but we've definitely seen better in the last five years.Saturday, July 30, 1994 - Video

Curtis Hanson's "Bad Influence" is one of my favourite thrillers from the '90s. Watching the movie again on a cold, wet Saturday night, it was great to rediscover its magic.James Spader is excellent (as always) as the up-and-coming executive whose life is turned upside-down by an ever-so-psychotic Rob Lowe. Lowe is superb in this film, really trading in on his bad boy image. He is chillingly convincing as the amoral Alex.The film has a delightfully sleazy air about it. Lisa Zane is the sexy femme fatale who costs Spader more than a few grey hairs, while a pre-"Desperate Housewives" Marcia Cross plays his fiancée. While light on sexual content, "Bad Influence" is still delightfully titillating in places. Genuinely naughty but nice! "Bad Influence" contains quite a few familiar faces. Those who enjoy spotting a pre-fame star's early appearance on the big screen should keep their eyes peeled for a then-unknown David Duchovny in this film.An edge-of-the-seat, nail-biting experience, this film deserves a minimum of 8 stars.