Highly Overrated But Still Good

Excellent, a Must See

There is just so much movie here. For some it may be too much. But in the same secretly sarcastic way most telemarketers say the phrase, the title of this one is particularly apt.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

A suspense thriller not untypical of a number of adult crime films made in the early 1980s e.g. Cruising, Dressed to Kill, Death Wish II, Tightrope. Tension is taut between Moore and Steiger, the latter, famous by then for his 'scenery chewing' and here proves no exception. Moore convinces as the compassionate Chicago psychoanalyst under suspicion of murder and targeted for assassination. It's a mystery with twists and turns but the third act is a bolt on which creates plot holes. Gould brings his usual jauntiness and there's a nice turn from dear old Art Carney.

I was getting ready to start some work, but saw this movie coming on cable. Saw the cast and thought that I really needed to watch this. Some of my favorite actors! I love Rod Steiger. But not in this film as his over-the-top persona was way too much to take. The final scene with Art Carney was a joke. It had the feel of a very cheap movie that bends reality to give a "shock scene".It's a bad movie. Bad writing, totally uninspired cinematography. But, it was bad enough to keep me watching it, AND, keeping me from going to work.Great cast put to great waste.

Moore knew he was living on borrowed time so far as Bond was concerned. Way too old, too slow moving and paunchy to be carrying a Walther PPK for much longer. His Bond contract allowed him to make two other films during this period - post OCTOPUSSY and pre A VIEW TO A KILL (that was to be his last JB outing)Wisely perhaps, he chose this role as mild-mannered but wholly professional Chicago psychiatrist Dr Judd Stevens, whose life hits a major rut after one of his patients is stabbed to death - wearing HIS coat. Having no idea what is going on for pretty much the entire movie Moore conveys Judd's plight rather well I thought. As unlike anything Moore has ever done, he must deal with finding himself simply in the wrong place for seemingly no reason.Several things to like about this flick - IF you care to look. Art Carney's turn as burnt-out but still cluey PI Morgens is a real gem of a performance. When Moore admits he doesn't believe in guns, Carney counters, "Yeah, well I don't believe in Santa Claus, but each Christmas he still comes round." The brief scenes in his ramshackle office are really worth looking at closely.Cop Steiger is a tad over the top as is his wont - give him any opportunity to rave - he's in actor's heaven. Ron Paradi as mob boss Cortini puts across one of the nastiest and inherently evil men you would ever wish to not meet and Anne Archer is well....Anne Archer.Totally unexpected last 20 seconds really lifts the film I thought.

This is a truly ugly little movie - from start to finish, it lacks warmth, familiarity. Indeed, it begins and ends in a cemetery. Its look gives it a low budget feel- though the high powered cast must have made it more expensive than it looks. the movie is saved by its choice of actors. This must be one of the most unusual casts assembled: Art Carney, Roger Moore, Anne Archer, Elliott Gould, Rod Steiger, David Hedison (known particularly to Americans for the TV series, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea but I think he also served as Felix Leitner in one of the Bond movies). What a group.The sight of Roger Moore as a pathetic, terrified, weak, indignant psychiatrist is also truly disorienting. As he runs and pushes chairs against doorknobs to stop one man chasing him, trembling in fear, it's VERY hard to not cry out "007, WAKE UP! One karate chop will do it!I think the best of a generation of American actors were Rod Steiger, Jason Robards, Marlon Brando, and George C. Scott. Steiger's role isn't a wonderful one - but he is as usual, fascinating to watch to see the accents, looks, manners, that he will choose to portray the character. I am very fond of Elliott Gould - though he underplays his role here. Anne Archer is lovely - as she is as the wife of Harrison Ford in all the Tom Clancy/Jack Ryan movies, and of course as the wife of Michael Douglas in Fatal Attraction. Art Carney is absolutely extraordinary - very amusing - it's as if his dialogue was written by someone other than the sleepy TV movie of the week folks who wrote the other dialogue. This is worth watching - if you don't expect too much. E.g., if you want to see Roger Moore play another role - and I like Moore very much -it's fine. He's also charming and funny in the comedy, That Lucky Touch with Susannah York.