Murder of a Cat

In 2014's silly indie dramedy-thriller "Murder Of A Cat" odd-ball loner Fran Kranz (Bradley Cooper-lite) lives in a cosy corner of LA with mum Blythe Danner & his cat... but in probing (with, reluctantly, cop JK Simmons) the latter's murder via a cross-bow bolt he gets drawn into a thin small-town crime plot involving the likes of Nikki Reed (good), Greg Kinnear & Leonardo Nam. Christian Magalhaes & debutant Robert Snow's screenplay is light but ambitiously tries crossing a few genres, and debut director Gillian Greene brings it home decently enough on what appears to be a shoestring budget. It's unremarkable fare, though does have some likeable performances. Meh.

This is a goofy mystery/adventure, but it isn't just funny. The drama adds something to it. We learn a lot about various characters, and the movie ends up having more substance than one would expect.

Fran Kranz, who is a man, makes an appealing loser.

J.K. Simmons delivers his usual great performance. His best line is in a scene where he denies working with Clinton.

Clinton looks like Bronson Pinchot went to Howard Wolowitz's barber, though later he looks more grown-up, resembling Andy Samberg.

Nikki Reed is also very good. The best example is her grief over the loss of her cat, which is quite genuine and not funny at all.

Leonardo Nam shows a lot more range to his character than just the stoned wacko we meet at the store. Is he crafty like Eddie Haskell, or is the guy at the store not the real Yi?

Greg Kinnear is very good as the celebrity store manager known for his outrageous commercials. But he is so much more than that.

Even Blythe Danner seems at home here. She has a reputation, but then so does J.K. Simmons, and both of them add so much to what could have been merely silly.

And the music is great. Most of it is some type of jazz, with the "film noir" style with muted trumpet the most common.

It's really worth seeing.

I loved this movie. It is quirky and playful, without being heavy handed. The direction is excellent. The actors all feel very natural as if we, as the audience, are witnessing a little slice of their lives. It tackles big topics of corporate greed, economic issues, aimlessness, disenfranchised youth, love, romance and loyalty. It characterizes alienation in a parent/child relationship in a profound way that is very touching. All of this wrapped in a fun and crazy adventure that starts with a CAT. It is a wild and entertaining ride that left me wanting to stay on board as long as I could. I did not want this film to end. I highly recommend it.

J. K. Simmons, Blythe Danner, even old Fran are way better actors and have been in way way better stuff to have even entertained this dumpster fire.

How can Clinton the main character played by Fran Kranz look like a stereotypical Jew and the mother is obviously not? Some one else said it he looks like Harold Walowitz after being rolled at burning man.

Its not even really a comedy. Its really just stereotypical stuff trying to be made fun of by a half ass script. There is a reason no one saw it 10 years ago and im guessing streaming people will be coming on here soon to trash this all over the place.

What we have here is something reminiscent of lost in translation. Negative reviewers would have similarly loosed their venom (& frustration with something lacking short-attention-span-spoon-fed-in-small-doses-led-by-the-hand plot & exposition, action & Bey-esque explodeysubtlety) like Who's Cletis Tout?, The Station Agent, The Spitfire Grill, Julian Po, The Man In The Moon, The Legend of 1900, & Untamed Heart.

If you are familiar with & enjoyed any of those, chances are you will enjoy this picture.

Or maybe not... it occasionally does have awkward, clunky moments that don't seem to be intentional & do not contribute to the atmosphere.