Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Blistering performances.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Hollywood Homicide is a mediocre movie with an average storyline that I felt had the opportunity of being very different but simply didn't and a cast that could have delivered more.The set up of a buddy cop comedy in LA with Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett easily could have worked but simply didn't,they completely lacked any necessary chemistry for their parts.I always love seeing Harrison Ford on screen,but was very disappointed by his performance in this,he simply couldn't do comedy,he delivered pretty much every line very poorly and I feel like he slowly lost more and more interest in his role throughout.There were certainly a handful of parts that made me laugh,but there wasn't enough and there was nothing aside from that,the action sequences are unimpressive,and we are never really given any reason to truly care for these characters.It has its moments,but Hollywood Homicide is mostly a poorly written and poorly acted comedy that I would not recommend. Two detectives investigate the murder of a popular rap group. Best Performance: Josh Hartnett Worst Performance: Lena Olin

Originally published on June 13, 2003.When one hears that Harrison Ford, who has appeared in more top money-making films (i.e. the "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" franchises) is the star of a new motion picture, one might assume that film would be nothing short of very fine entertainment.In the case of his newest vehicle, however, that assumption would be very wrong indeed.Here, Ford plays veteran LAPD homicide detective Joe Gavilan, who is also a part-time real estate agent trying to pick up a big commission. He is teamed with Officer K.C. Calden (Josh Hartnett, "Pearl Harbor," "40 Days and 40 Nights"), a vegan who instructs yoga to beautiful women (are there any other kind in a movie like this?) in his spare time and dreams of being another Marlon Brando.Quirky enough for you? Well, there's more.Film begins with a rap group being gunned down (good riddance, I say), then sends us all down a confused and twisted tale that leaves us exiting the theater shaking our heads and wondering what in the Sam Hill just took place.For instance, look for a Puff Daddy-like record producer that may of may not have something to do with the killings; and a crooked cop (Dwight Yokam, "Sling Blade," "The Panic Room") who may or may not have something to do with the murder of Calden's police officer father.There's also an Internal Affairs investigation which seems to lack any logical reason for taking place; Gavilan trying to broker a deal between Martin Landau and Master P (of all people) for a multi-million dollar home; Gavilan's tepid romance with Lena Olin ("Romeo Is Bleeding"); Calden's obsession with performing in Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" and a weird cameo in which Lou Diamond Phillips ("La Bamba") appears in drag.After about an hour or so of these ridiculous situations, as well as the low key acting in which these characters seem to be engaged in a contest to lull themselves - as well as the audience - into a deep stupor, along comes a frenetic 20-minute car chase which has the worst elements of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," W.C. Fields' "Never Give a Sucker an Even Break" and the dumbest Keystone Kops flick.Needless to say, the bad guys are duly dispatched (hey, any time there's a fight on the roof of a building what do you THINK is going to happen?) and even the I.A. officer has questionable motivations, as well. It's all wrapped up neat and tidy - like last week's garbage.Directed by Ron Shelton, who did much better with films like "Bull Durham" and "White Men Can't Jump," but while having a competent cast, he can do nothing with the ludicrous script.Audience care and empathy is non-existent, too. The murder of the rap group is not intriguing in the least because they're only on screen for about two minutes (thank goodness); Gavilan is so occupied with real estate we cannot connect with him and Calden is just too bizarre to be believed.Add to all of this the fact that the movie itself cannot decide if it wants to be a comedy, action or drama. And since the film doesn't seem to care, why should we?

Hollywood Homicide is well worth seeing. One could start with analyzing the title and end up with criticizing the driving, but are these really what make the audience like or dislike a movie? They are not, in my humble opinion. Remember that if your horizon of expectations is not met, this is reason enough to chew on what you have just watched. To me, this movie was unexpected. While others may want to call it a bad detective movie, I like to call it a lovely comedy, a parody of both Hollywood industry and the police world. While Josh Hartnett can be unexpected in many of his roles, Harrison Ford really outdid himself playing such a part. So people, if you want to unwind after a bad or tiresome day, do watch this one. It's underrated!

When not solving murders in Hollywood, Detective Joe Gavilan and his rookie partner Kasey Calden both moonlight in other fields Gavilan sells real estate, and Calden aspires to become an actor. Assigned to the vicious in-club slaying of a promising young rap act, the two detectives delve into the recording industry where they hope to find answers - ideally ones that also come with property buyers or auditions......The problem with this film is that it cannot decide what it wants to be. Yes it's funny in places, but so is The Fifth Element (random I know) and I wouldn't class it as a comedy.It's a mishmash of different genres, drama, thriller, hip hop type drama, and action rolled into one. Or the little sub-genre I call 'the time when Ford tried to get down with the kids'.And this is all it is, Ford trying to get his mojo back after a string of flops with a Rap music background and a hot young co-star (think Exit Wounds).And for the most part, it works, Ford is great as he has this 'I don't care anymore' attitude that makes home endearing.Hartnett is okay and the rest of the cast are forgettable. Story wise it's all over the place, and Shelton should know better, Dark Blue was a great movie.So all in all, it's not good by any means, but curiously watchable.