Pretty Good

People are voting emotionally.

Crappy film

Best movie ever!

Unable to remember if he is responsible for a murder, an alcoholic writer recalls bits and pieces of the previous few days while conversing with his cynical father in this unusual film written and directed by Norman Mailer, based on his novel of the same name. With lead actor Ryan O'Neal narrating the film retrospectively, the unsolved murder theme and tons of shady characters, 'Tough Guys Don't Dance' has often been cited as a neo-noir but it is actually closer to a noir spoof with some comedic moments so bizarre that it is hard to tell if the humour was intentional or not. Whatever the case, the film benefits from memorably eccentric supporting characters and the capable likes of Penn Jillette and Wings Hauser try to make the most of the material, though there remains room to question whether the film would have been better played straight without the comedy angle. The central dynamic is certainly quite interesting with O'Neal torn internally as he solves the mystery, unsure of whether he is responsible and if he is, whether he truly wants to find out. The final product though is pretty messy and it is easy to see why the film received several Razzie nominations in its day.

This was a movie that started in the middle, jumped around and ended when the cast got too depleted. It is billed as a crime-drama but it watched more like a crime-comedy. I'm not sure whether the intent really was drama or comedy, but I had to laugh several times during the film. Despite this questionable intent the film was somewhat captivating and kept my attention. I wouldn't recommend it for youngsters due to the drug, sex and violence aspects.

If you have an insatiable appetite for movies and want to get into something unusually tasty then serve yourself this movie tonight!Important sidebar: if you've already read a critique posted on this site that nay-sayed this piece please do yourself a favor and etch-a-sketch that memory away. Though well-worded, Jack Sommersby's review of Tough Guys Don't Dance is just as equally misguided. For instance, the same gentleman who waxes that he was summarily summoned into Sleepyville three times before he was capable of viddying this work from beginning to end also asserts that it is a film that "you can't quite take your eyes off of." Believe me, you won't have a problem making more than "a bit of sense" from this mixture of the twisted, oddball and suspenseful. In fact even Doctor Dunderhead couldn't help but sleepwalk into a bit of truth when he characterized this Norman Mailer pastiche as "perversely fascinating." You don't need to know Jack to dig this flick the first time through, and you may find yourself revisiting it soon afterwards haunted by its savage and sublime reverbations.This movie is a MUST SEE for film fans. Ryan O'Neal steps out from under typecasting--which has rendered him ineffective in much of his work--to engage in an often upsetting, yet somehow casual dance with the devil. He, Lawrence Tierney and Wings Hauser serve up sumptuous performances. All the while the supporting cast provides color, depth and character to a plot that is as unnerving as it is both captivating and entertaining.Ignore Sir Superlative Sommersby's slight of hand and rent this movie! If I'm wrong then blast me back herein. On the other hand, if you like what you see then do me a favor and explain to me what the last phrase of Jaded Jack's review means--"rendering us helpless under power to disturb"!?! In the meanwhile, fellow movie devotee, keep on dancing.

This is a hard film to stomach.It has a lot of intense,extreme scenes of sex,violence and obscurity.Ryan O'Neal could have done better.Wings Hauser outshines all in his role of sadistic,sex crazy chauvinist police officer.Who at the end turns insane.And thats what he isnt alone in.There are even more obscure characters here,like southern reverend Big Stoop and his "friendly" ex-wife Patty.They create a spiral of sex and intrigues which ends in suicide of the first and death of the other.All in all,a movie every sado-masochist would love to own.For normal people-a torturingly mad 2 hour experience.