Hollywood Homicide, written and directed by Ron Shelton - Six out of 10

Hollywood Homicide, written and directed by Ron Shelton

Six out of 10

Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett try hard to make this film rise above average, but this is where it will remain stuck.

It has nothing of the deeper meaning of Training Day and it is just like any other movie with a couple of police detectives that in the case of this film try to be amusing, but do not get near Beverly Hills Cop or 48 Hours, to name just a few of the films that are merit worthy in this genre.

Harrison Ford – the feared pilot of the recent period, when his sorties over California have caused panic – is Sergeant Joe Gavilan, a police investigator who plays the real estate agent in his other life.

We can smile in some moments, albeit we are not taken aback, when Detective Gavilan gives his card as a realtor, instead of the police one, to a suspect, who is confused.

In another one of the rare entertaining scenes, the same Joe Gavilan is chasing a suspect, tries to take a private car for his use, but the driver is a huge man and so he chooses a bike instead.

In the same chase, someone opens the door of a car and thus the cyclist is projected on the ground, after an impressive stunt, obviously performed by a professional, not the aging Ford.

When in an elevator, Gavilan has the gun in his hand and he keeps agitating it as he speaks on the phone about…his real estate business, arguing over the 6.7 million or full seven that the property must sell for…

The other passengers in the elevator are amusing, as they stare at this lunatic – they may think – who talks about a mansion and the millions, while holding to a gun that keeps moving in their faces.

Another passage seems risqué:

Josh Hartnett aka Detective K.C. Calden impounds a car in which children are present, with their mother in the front seat.

Instead of allowing them to get out, just by stopping the car, he is instead engaged in this furious ride, following the suspect –

Ok, we know the villain did it and if the chasing detective stops, he would lose the antihero and we do not want that!

Still, it is more than awkward and inappropriate.

He makes jokes on the dangerous situation!

Yes, we are going to die! He tells the children, who are just about six or so, and their terrified mother.

Granted, we could look at this from a different angle and admire the daring, originality of the dialogue…perhaps.

The same Calden is cornered by one of the vicious villains that is about to kill him, when the former starts begging.

He has a sideline, just like his partner Gavilan, and in his case, it is acting, which leads to this moment.

He is extremely satisfied with himself and his acting, when he overturns the situation and sates:

I deserve a Golden globe for this!

Maybe not an Oscar, but definitely a Golden Globe…

Be that as it may, but the film does not add up to the level of an award, although it did get (only) one:

The Yoga Award for Worst Foreign Actor!