Directed By: Shane Black
Written By: Shane Black
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, Corbin Bernsen
Running Time: 103 minutes
Premise: Mistaken for an actor, small-time crook, Harry Lockhart, finds himself in the midst of the Hollywood community. He's paired up with private detective "Gay Perry" to get some training for his role, but things begin to get weird when they witness a real murder.
Written By: Shane Black
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, Corbin Bernsen
Running Time: 103 minutes
Premise: Mistaken for an actor, small-time crook, Harry Lockhart, finds himself in the midst of the Hollywood community. He's paired up with private detective "Gay Perry" to get some training for his role, but things begin to get weird when they witness a real murder.
Why You Should See It
With a noir-ish feel, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang can appeal to a modern audience while still retaining the characteristics of older mystery/crime films. This is a movie that one probably should watch multiple times in order to pick up on all the recurring references and jokes.
With a noir-ish feel, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang can appeal to a modern audience while still retaining the characteristics of older mystery/crime films. This is a movie that one probably should watch multiple times in order to pick up on all the recurring references and jokes.
Synopsis
At a Los Angeles party, Harry Lockhart recounts recent events. Fleeing a botched burglary, Harry's friend is shot, forcing Harry to evade police by ducking into an audition. Harry unintentionally impresses the producers with an outburst of remorse they mistake for method acting. At a Hollywood party before a screen test, Harry meets private investigator Perry van Shrike, hired to give Harry on-the-job experience for his role, and party host Harlan Dexter, a retired actor who recently resolved a ten year feud over his wife's inheritance with his daughter, Veronica. He also encounters his childhood crush Harmony Lane, but wakes up in bed with her hostile friend. He runs over to Harmony's place at 6am to apologize.
Perry and Harry witness a vehicle being dumped in a lake and are spotted by the apparent killers. Perry shoots the trunk lock in a rescue attempt, but accidentally hits the female corpse inside as well. They cannot report the body because it appears Perry killed her.
Harmony contacts Harry, explaining that her sister Jenna came to L.A., stole Harmony's credit cards, and later killed herself. Believing Harry is a detective, Harmony asks him to investigate Jenna's death as a murder. After she leaves, Harry discovers the lake corpse in his bathroom and a planted pistol. Harry and Perry dump the corpse, later identified as Veronica Dexter by police. Harry discovers it was Harmony's credit card that was used to hire Perry to come to the lake, tying Jenna to their case. He goes to see Harmony, who (accidentally) slams the door on his finger, cutting it off, and she takes him to hospital.
At a Los Angeles party, Harry Lockhart recounts recent events. Fleeing a botched burglary, Harry's friend is shot, forcing Harry to evade police by ducking into an audition. Harry unintentionally impresses the producers with an outburst of remorse they mistake for method acting. At a Hollywood party before a screen test, Harry meets private investigator Perry van Shrike, hired to give Harry on-the-job experience for his role, and party host Harlan Dexter, a retired actor who recently resolved a ten year feud over his wife's inheritance with his daughter, Veronica. He also encounters his childhood crush Harmony Lane, but wakes up in bed with her hostile friend. He runs over to Harmony's place at 6am to apologize.
Perry and Harry witness a vehicle being dumped in a lake and are spotted by the apparent killers. Perry shoots the trunk lock in a rescue attempt, but accidentally hits the female corpse inside as well. They cannot report the body because it appears Perry killed her.
Harmony contacts Harry, explaining that her sister Jenna came to L.A., stole Harmony's credit cards, and later killed herself. Believing Harry is a detective, Harmony asks him to investigate Jenna's death as a murder. After she leaves, Harry discovers the lake corpse in his bathroom and a planted pistol. Harry and Perry dump the corpse, later identified as Veronica Dexter by police. Harry discovers it was Harmony's credit card that was used to hire Perry to come to the lake, tying Jenna to their case. He goes to see Harmony, who (accidentally) slams the door on his finger, cutting it off, and she takes him to hospital.
They go to a party but Harry is abducted, beaten and threatened to cease the investigation by the killers from the lake, and then let go. While taking Harry back to the hospital, Harmony sees the killers heading to Perry's stakeout. Realizing that Perry is heading into a trap, she leaves Harry in her car and rushes off to the stakeout, where she saves Perry and one of the killers gets shot to death by a food-cart operator. A pink-haired girl, affiliated with the killers, steals Harmony's car and unwittingly drives an unconscious Harry to her safe house. The remaining lake killer arrives and shoots her; Harry recovers the pistol and shoots the thug. His finger has fallen off again so he puts it on ice, but a dog jumps up and eats it. Harmony meets Harry at his hotel where she reveals she had told Jenna that Harlan Dexter was her real father. They quarrel in bed and he throws her out, being careful not to slam her fingers in the door.
After Harmony disappears following a lead, Harry and Perry investigate a private health clinic owned by Harlan Dexter. Perry realizes Veronica Dexter was incarcerated there by Harlan so an impostor could drop her court case. The pair capture a guard to question him but accidentally kill him, and then are captured by Dexter. He reveals he now plans to cremate his daughter's corpse to remove any remaining evidence. Harry calls Harmony, who had not actually disappeared, but had simply gone to work. Harmony steals the van containing the coffin. Harry and Perry escape, but Harmony crashes the van. Perry is incapacitated in the ensuing shootout; Harry manages to kill Dexter and his thugs, but is also shot.
Waking in a hospital, Harry finds that Perry and Harmony are fine. Perry reveals Harmony's sister was not murdered but committed suicide. Jenna had escaped incest in Indiana and located Dexter, believing him to be her real father. She accidentally witnessed Dexter having sex with Veronica's impostor, the pink-haired girl. Believing this father was also incestuous, Jenna commissioned Perry and committed suicide.
Perry travels back to Harmony's home town and confronts Jenna's father who is now bed-ridden, slapping him multiple times and calling him an animal. When the old man berates Perry for attacking a helpless old man, Perry says simply, "Yeah. Big tough guy," and leaves without further explanation.
Having lost the movie role to Colin Farrell, Harry gets a job working for Perry.
After Harmony disappears following a lead, Harry and Perry investigate a private health clinic owned by Harlan Dexter. Perry realizes Veronica Dexter was incarcerated there by Harlan so an impostor could drop her court case. The pair capture a guard to question him but accidentally kill him, and then are captured by Dexter. He reveals he now plans to cremate his daughter's corpse to remove any remaining evidence. Harry calls Harmony, who had not actually disappeared, but had simply gone to work. Harmony steals the van containing the coffin. Harry and Perry escape, but Harmony crashes the van. Perry is incapacitated in the ensuing shootout; Harry manages to kill Dexter and his thugs, but is also shot.
Waking in a hospital, Harry finds that Perry and Harmony are fine. Perry reveals Harmony's sister was not murdered but committed suicide. Jenna had escaped incest in Indiana and located Dexter, believing him to be her real father. She accidentally witnessed Dexter having sex with Veronica's impostor, the pink-haired girl. Believing this father was also incestuous, Jenna commissioned Perry and committed suicide.
Perry travels back to Harmony's home town and confronts Jenna's father who is now bed-ridden, slapping him multiple times and calling him an animal. When the old man berates Perry for attacking a helpless old man, Perry says simply, "Yeah. Big tough guy," and leaves without further explanation.
Having lost the movie role to Colin Farrell, Harry gets a job working for Perry.
Character Analysis
Harry Lockhart
Harry’s cynicism about the Hollywood lifestyle is a bit ironic because once he gets considered for a part in a film, he loves the fact that he’s sipping champagne in Los Angeles. In his “audition” he realizes his mistakes as a petty criminal, and tries to become someone different in Hollywood. Women turn him down after he gives fake backstories about himself and he gets beat up when he tries to intimidate a guy who feels up Harmony.
To Harry, Harmony was the high school sweetheart that got away (he was friendzoned). He was always there for her, but he mainly acted as ‘the shoulder to cry on’ guy. When Harry meets with Harmony at the bar (thanks to Perry), their friendship seems to almost have its own language as they wisecrack about different people and remember the good old days. It seems like they will reconnect until Harry gets drunk and sleeps with her friend thus perpetuating the fact that he’s a screw up.
Later, Harry goes with Perry to learn about being a private detective. Perry quickly becomes annoyed by Harry’s inexperience as he smokes a cigarette during their investigation and frequently talks about things other than the case. To make matters worse, Harry yells at the masked men in the woods which makes him easier to identify. While Perry knows Harry’s actions could come back to bite him, Harry does not seem to care and just shrugs it off.
We see that Harry has a heart when he is informed of Harmony’s supposed suicide. He almost immediately becomes depressed that he lost her. However, once Harmony shows up at Harry’s room, Harry reverts back to his old self and loses his way in the narration after staring at her breasts. When Harmony nonchalantly brushes off Harry flicking her breast (even though he was trying to kill a spider), Harry wants to know how else the Hollywood lifestyle has changed her. In order to spend more time with her, Harry accepts Harmony’s dead sister’s murder case (after lying about how he’s a private investigator).
The next night, Harry decides that he doesn’t want anything to do with the case after he runs into the masked men from the woods - going by the names Mr. Frying Pan and Mustard. After Mustard kills the pink-haired girl at their safehouse, Harry decides to avenge her and get his own revenge and he shoots Mustard multiple times. This clearly affects Harry as he starts to cry.
Harmony tells Harry that she isn’t the great person Harry thinks she is, but Harry admits that he is just a low-level thief. This mildly surprises Harmony and puts them on equal footing as two struggling people. Harry displays his care for Harmony’s well-being when he kills (somewhat accidentally) the goon outside the health clinic after mild interrogation. In the climax, Harry accomplishes an almost superhuman feat (kills four men while hanging from an overpass with a bullet wound) in order to save Harmony.
Harry’s cynicism about the Hollywood lifestyle is a bit ironic because once he gets considered for a part in a film, he loves the fact that he’s sipping champagne in Los Angeles. In his “audition” he realizes his mistakes as a petty criminal, and tries to become someone different in Hollywood. Women turn him down after he gives fake backstories about himself and he gets beat up when he tries to intimidate a guy who feels up Harmony.
To Harry, Harmony was the high school sweetheart that got away (he was friendzoned). He was always there for her, but he mainly acted as ‘the shoulder to cry on’ guy. When Harry meets with Harmony at the bar (thanks to Perry), their friendship seems to almost have its own language as they wisecrack about different people and remember the good old days. It seems like they will reconnect until Harry gets drunk and sleeps with her friend thus perpetuating the fact that he’s a screw up.
Later, Harry goes with Perry to learn about being a private detective. Perry quickly becomes annoyed by Harry’s inexperience as he smokes a cigarette during their investigation and frequently talks about things other than the case. To make matters worse, Harry yells at the masked men in the woods which makes him easier to identify. While Perry knows Harry’s actions could come back to bite him, Harry does not seem to care and just shrugs it off.
We see that Harry has a heart when he is informed of Harmony’s supposed suicide. He almost immediately becomes depressed that he lost her. However, once Harmony shows up at Harry’s room, Harry reverts back to his old self and loses his way in the narration after staring at her breasts. When Harmony nonchalantly brushes off Harry flicking her breast (even though he was trying to kill a spider), Harry wants to know how else the Hollywood lifestyle has changed her. In order to spend more time with her, Harry accepts Harmony’s dead sister’s murder case (after lying about how he’s a private investigator).
The next night, Harry decides that he doesn’t want anything to do with the case after he runs into the masked men from the woods - going by the names Mr. Frying Pan and Mustard. After Mustard kills the pink-haired girl at their safehouse, Harry decides to avenge her and get his own revenge and he shoots Mustard multiple times. This clearly affects Harry as he starts to cry.
Harmony tells Harry that she isn’t the great person Harry thinks she is, but Harry admits that he is just a low-level thief. This mildly surprises Harmony and puts them on equal footing as two struggling people. Harry displays his care for Harmony’s well-being when he kills (somewhat accidentally) the goon outside the health clinic after mild interrogation. In the climax, Harry accomplishes an almost superhuman feat (kills four men while hanging from an overpass with a bullet wound) in order to save Harmony.
Perry Van Shrike
Perry is the extremely sarcastic private detective paid to give Harry detective lessons. Unlike Harry, Perry understands that his job is very boring and nothing like mystery books or movies. After the chaotic night at the lake, Perry only says that it better be improving Harry’s acting - Perry only cares about his paycheck from Dabney Shaw. Still, Perry is forced to care a little more once he hears about Harmony’s supposed suicide, and he consoles Harry before he leaves.
Although Perry seems uninterested in his job, he knows what to do in a sticky situation. When Harry finds the corpse in his room, Perry tells him to wrap the body and find a planted gun. Also, Perry manages to distract the cops in order to hide the body (by kissing Harry). Perry demonstrates that he cares for Harry when he tells him to leave Los Angeles. He tries to keep Harry and Harmony out of the case in fear of them possibly getting killed. At the end, Perry tells Harry to stop stealing and being a punk. In order to keep him out of trouble, he hires Harry to work for him.
Perry is the extremely sarcastic private detective paid to give Harry detective lessons. Unlike Harry, Perry understands that his job is very boring and nothing like mystery books or movies. After the chaotic night at the lake, Perry only says that it better be improving Harry’s acting - Perry only cares about his paycheck from Dabney Shaw. Still, Perry is forced to care a little more once he hears about Harmony’s supposed suicide, and he consoles Harry before he leaves.
Although Perry seems uninterested in his job, he knows what to do in a sticky situation. When Harry finds the corpse in his room, Perry tells him to wrap the body and find a planted gun. Also, Perry manages to distract the cops in order to hide the body (by kissing Harry). Perry demonstrates that he cares for Harry when he tells him to leave Los Angeles. He tries to keep Harry and Harmony out of the case in fear of them possibly getting killed. At the end, Perry tells Harry to stop stealing and being a punk. In order to keep him out of trouble, he hires Harry to work for him.
Applying Aristotle's PoeticsHamartia (flaw) - Harry has a knack to screw things up when everything seems to be going his way. He believes he has to change himself in order to make it in Los Angeles until he discovers he doesn’t have to impress anybody to be successful.
Anagnorisis (Critical discovery) - This occurs when Harry finds out that Harmony’s sister hired Perry which means that Perry’s case and Harry’s case are the same.
Peripeteia (Reversal of Circumstances) - In the parking lot of the health clinic, Harry and Perry are in control with the interrogation of the goon until Harry kills him and Harlan Dexter catches them.
Catharsis (Purgation of the audience) - At the end, we know that Harry finally has gotten out of the crime life and now works for Perry and Harmony’s father gets what he deserves.
Anagnorisis (Critical discovery) - This occurs when Harry finds out that Harmony’s sister hired Perry which means that Perry’s case and Harry’s case are the same.
Peripeteia (Reversal of Circumstances) - In the parking lot of the health clinic, Harry and Perry are in control with the interrogation of the goon until Harry kills him and Harlan Dexter catches them.
Catharsis (Purgation of the audience) - At the end, we know that Harry finally has gotten out of the crime life and now works for Perry and Harmony’s father gets what he deserves.