Parting Shots

While it lacks the urgency and poetic beauty of "Dirty Weekend", "Parting Shots" is a competent black comedy which never fails to entertain, and in parts, titillate.

Chris Rea [far superior an actor to his namesake Stephen Rea] gives a solid and effective performance as a decent guy who is told that his life is coming to end. The love scenes with Felicity Kendal aka Barbara Good are magnificent and the presence of the two expensive, beautiful and stylish call girls considerably enhances the film.

A success.

6/10

Foremost in my mind when approaching Parting Shots was the fact that I had never seen a Michael Winner film before. Nope, not even Death Wish. I was aware of his reputation, though. Tory, tabloid columnist, worst director ever, restaurant critic (most pointless occupation ever). Bearing all this in mind, I was confidently expecting to begin this review with the words, "Michael Winner must die."

But... no can do. It's not that Parting Shots is any good - it's certainly pretty weak stuff, by any standards. It's just that it's nowhere near as unwatchably awful as so many have insisted. I've seen any number of films this year alone that are far worse than this, and the film's dated, 70's cheesiness has a certain naive appeal. Besides, any director who can get John Cleese, Bob Hoskins, Joanna Lumley, Oliver Reed and Diana Rigg, to name but a few, to appear in material of this (sub)standard must have something going for him, surely?

Parting Shots isn't the worst film ever. It's not even the worst film ever to star Bob Hoskins. It's just an utterly harmless instance of a bunch of ageing luvvies getting together, having a few laughs, and making a little film to show the grandkids. Not a menace, just an irrelevance, so ignore it and it'll soon go away.

Just watched the film on tape and to be honest I quite liked it. I enjoyed all the cameo performances from many many good British actors and actresses. I don't really see what all the negative comments are coming from.OK its not Fawlty Towers or Rising Damp but as a black comedy film with no great pretensions it is perfectly watchable and enjoyable. Some VERY nice looking girls in it too,especially Nicola Bryant in all too small a role. Why this film is never seen on TV I have no idea.There is no swearing in it,a modest amount of bra and panties and little if any gratuitous over the top violence.In fact unless you have cancer the film is just a bit of fun with a 'happy' ending.

Oh, to be a film critic.

To be able to make pompous, uninformed statements about anything created by Michael Winner.

Critic I am not, neither am I a blinkered devotee of Mr. Winner, but I loved this movie.

Lots of fun from beginning to end, with Chris Rea as an understatedly bewildered and reluctant serial killer and with Felicity Kendal as his less than innocent accomplice.

Unfavourable comparisons have been made with 'Kind Hearts & Coronets' but those of us who love the Ealing comedies are by no means uncomfortable with 'Parting Shots'; it maintains a ruthless tradition.

Mr. Winner also borrows freely from his own greatest movie, 'The Jokers' (1967) in certain scenes, and the presence of Oliver Reed reinforces that sense of history.

'Parting Shots' is a very funny movie with a great cast, all of whom do their stuff excellently.

First things first - some people think this ISN'T the worst film ever. They are mistaken.

I recall, one fine afternoon, visiting the local multiplex and witnessing the trailer for Parting Shots. Something smelt distinctly fishy and indeed my worst fears were confirmed at the end when it proudly stated, "Written, Produced and Directed by Michael Winner". I was amused.

Some weeks later, reviews for the film started appearing in the press which all backed up my initial feelings. Some months later...much to my joy, the film appeared on the shelf in Blockbuster. After so long a build-up, I was desperate to see quite how bad this film could be. On these grounds, it is an incredible achievement of modern cinema. How Mr. Winner has been able to produce the ultimate "so bad it's actually kind of good" film is a testament to his skill as director and part-time restaurant critic. Details of the film's many amusements (Plot(?), characters, ethics, good actors looking worse than ever), have been discussed in the other, many (and often amusing) reviews. However, I feel duty-bound to give further highlight to the performance and acting prowess of one, Mr. Chris Rea Esq. This faded rockstar was originally supposed to do the music but 'friend' Winner suggested he play the main role, since nobody else could give such depth and realism to the part of such a born loser. Well done Michael. Every word and motion of Rea is pure (unintentional) comic genius, ranging from his heartfelt declaration of love ("I luv you. I do ya' know") to his 'interesting' bodily positions (note his stance beside the swimming pool, or his 'relaxed' look when sipping champagne). I have seen many, many films in my time, but even so, Rea is a truly original performer, nay artiste. He is the essence of Parting Shots and through him Winner proves to the world that he is, in fact, just fat, miserable, and inhuman. As if we didn't know already.

To conclude, if you build up your expectations for a truly bad film and perhaps partake in a fair amount of alcohol, you won't be disappointed by Parting Shots. Indeed, I wouldn't be surprised if you split your sides laughing all the way up to the scooby-doo-style-everyone-laughs ending. It's ironic really that something so devoid of humour can be so hilarious.

BUY IT!!!