Coldblooded

With so many over-hyped major releases of recent years proving to be bitter disappointments, it's a real treat when I get to watch an older, lesser-known film with no expectations and am blown away by what I see. Director Wallace Wolodarsky's Coldblooded is such a film.

Jason Priestley (of Beverley Hills 90210 fame) plays Cosmo, a socially inept loner working as a bookie for an organised crime syndicate, who unwillingly becomes a hit-man when his gangster boss makes him an offer he can't refuse. After being sent to work alongside seasoned gunman Steve (Peter Riegert), in order to learn the ropes, Cosmo discovers that he is a natural when it comes to dishing out death.

Completely ruthless, quick thinking, and a great shot, he takes to the job like a duck to water, but also finds that wasting people for a living is rather stressful. In order to try and relax, he begins yoga, and soon falls for the pretty teacher who takes his class. But is it possible for him to continue in his line of work and be in love at the same time?

A quirky blend of dark humour and extreme violence, Coldblooded is a delight from start to finish. Priestly excels as Cosmo, a character that you cannot help but like, despite his monstrous ability to shoot complete strangers without skipping a heartbeat. The young killer's deadpan expression and bizarre mannerisms suggest that his mind functions in a manner different to most—his perception of right and wrong is certainly severely distorted—and whilst this doesn't excuse the fact that he is a brutal murderer, it makes his actions little easier to understand and, perhaps, even forgive.

The smart script, also by Wolodarsky, brims with offbeat moments, great incidental characters, and inky black comedy, and his talented cast (which includes great turns by Robert Loggia, as Cosmo's boss, and Kimberly Williams as his girlfriend, plus fine cameos from Janeane Garofolo and Michael J. Fox) don't put a foot wrong, delivering some truly excellent performances.

If you too are weary of overblown summer blockbusters that don't live up to the hype, track down this little gem of a movie to be reminded how good cinema can be when it's done right.

this movie is completely underestimated. Jason Priestley really shocked me that he was able to play such a good character after what i've seen from him in the past. i highly recommend this movie to anyone with an intelligent sense of humor. the only thing I'm not too happy about is that this movie has not been released as a DVD yet but hopefully that will change. it's a dark comedy for anyone that is into them. one of the best ones i've ever watched. i caught this movie late one night about 3:00 in the morning knowing i had to get up for school at 6:00 a.m. and lets just say i had a rough day at school the next day. i couldn't take my eyes off of it from the first second i saw it. it's rare that a movie can actually have that effect on me especially that late at night. once again if you ever have a chance to see this movie, take the opportunity, Preistley is magnificent. Catch it on VHS at the video store if you have a VCR still

This is one of those films that i catch by accident on TV while eating a dinner, and that immediately raise my eyebrows, set up a big question-mark above my head, make me forget about how good dinner i cooked, and instead make me immediately look up the title on IMDb while first set of commercials is on.

First i see a face from sugary Beverly Hills in a _very_ different role, and he seems to be a hit-man (i didn't see the beginning of the movie), but he goes to yoga classes, and he seems to be at once simple and honest (and a virgin), and a successful professional killer, and the movie seems to somehow balance the opposites quite skillfully. Really, i can still feel my eyebrows up there where they were for the most of the movie.

I laughed hard in few places, but like with best films, those funniest scenes had absolutely nothing obviously funny in them... it's the absurdness of the characters and their situations that makes those so funny.

Still, i didn't feel this to be a comedy at all, it's here that saw people call it a dark comedy.

Well, it's dark alright, and strangely uncomfortable, but i did laugh hard in some scenes so i guess it qualifies as comedy too.

Anyway, if you like quirky off-the-beaten-path films, this is one you won't regret seeing.

There are fewer and fewer ‘labours of love' in the movies these days- you start with a clever guy and a clever idea (right there most projects grind to a halt) get together a few bucks and some close ‘famous' friends-far too big a stars for this little project…and go out for an obscenely FEW amount of days and locations, add a little spit and bailing wire, and somehow come away with a movie.

Two Girls and a Guy is a good example, Let it Ride another one, but for my money, COLDBLOODED is the best of them all.

It's just that good.

Wallace Wolodarsky (supervising producer of The Simpsons) wrote and directed this darker than dark, black, dark black comedy about a young hit man protegee and his kooky environs.

Jason Priestly (as Cosmo Reif) shows the acting form not of Bev Hills 90210, but a foreshadow of his later work in Love and Death on Long Island. Kimberly Williams is perfect as the ingenue girlfriend, and Peter Riegert is spectacular as Cosmo's mentor Steve.

Robert Loggia, Janeane Garofalo and even Michael J Fox show up in smaller roles.

Not available on laser, you'll have to dig this one up on video, or on some of the more obscure cable options-but well worth the effort.

I rented this movie a few years ago on a friend's recommendation. I did not want to see it, strictly because of Jason Priestly. Boy was I wrong! This is one of those rare gems that you wish you could show to all your friends. This movie is what others like "The Big Hit" and such crime/comedy movies WISH they could be. It is smartly written, greatly acted (and subtly acted, no over-the-top histreonics as an attempt at humor) and excellently cast. Robert Logia is fantastic as the new Mob leader. Priestly is great as the title role. Please watch this movie with an open mind and be ready to be shocked, both at the black humor, and at the intelligence and care the story receives.