Movies-TV

Incredible Colors, Incredible Cast

This is amazing-looking movie with the whole thing done in just six or seven colors. When it came out over 15 years ago, it stunned audiences with its color scheme, being so different from anything else that had ever been put on film. Those colors, for me at least, make this an absolutely fascinating film to watch. There are literally thousands of scenes I wish could freeze and somehow convert them to a painting to study for their artwork.The characters and the story don't match up to the greatness of the photography, but they are all over-the-top, especially the villains. The famous actors who played them here must have a had a lot of fun on the set playing "Flatop," "Pruneface," "Lips," "Mumbles," etc.Meanwhile, Warren Beatty and Gleanne Hedley are good as Dick Tracey and girlfriend Tess Truehart, and she's as sweet and soft as her name. Another good addition is Charlie Korsmo as the delinquent young boy Dick and Tess take under their wing. The colorful other characters are played by Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, William Forysthe, Paul Sorvino, Mandy Patinkin, Madona and other names you know but are too numerous to list here. Check the full credits on the main page and you'll amazed.The only negatives I found were Pacino's voice which grates on you after awhile, Madonna's off-key singing voice and the fact that the film would have been better trimmed about 10 minutes. Those "faults" are all minor because overall, this is a fun movie....a cartoon strip coming to life in an incredibly-colorful fashion.....like nothing you have ever seen.

Turn-your-brain-off fun

Dick Tracy brings back nice memories for me, mainly because this film was headlining at the AMC Bryn Mawr Theater in Bryn Mawr, Pa. in June 1990 while I was an usher/concessionist/cashier there in what was perhaps the best years of my life to date. Having seen it again recently since several years ago was refreshing as I still found Dick Tracy very enjoyable, mainly because of the interesting characters and accomplished actors like Al Pacino(who stole the film as Big Boy Caprice), Dustin Hoffman, Dick Van Dyke, Warren Beatty, Paul Sorvino, Estelle Parsons, and to a lesser extent, Madonna. What I also liked about this movie is that it didn't take itself too seriously, and the actors, especially Pacino, seemed to have a great time in their respective roles in entertaining the audience. That being said, Pacino is the glue that keeps this film from getting boring or monotonous with his over-the-top performance of Big Boy, as his scenes are easily the highlights of Dick Tracy.If I must nitpick, as any wannabe credible critic should, there were a few aspects that I could've been spared slightly, such as too much Madonna for my liking. Not that she was bad, but I felt her character took up a few too many scenes, and her "acting" is well under par compared to the others. Lastly, I thought this film relied slightly too much on cartoonish sets and characters.Other than these negatives, I still highly recommend Dick Tracy to anyone looking for a fun 2hr experience to sit back and enjoy.

Great actors, direction, cinematography, and feel. Too original for some.

Dick Tracy was originally a comic book created in 1931 by Chester Gould. He is a plainclothes detective who tracks down a crew of villains, ranging from all types of visually original characters such as Flattop to The Blank to Big Boy Caprice. (These villains became so popular in the 40's that Warner Bros. created their own take on the Tracy-style villains in such cartoons as Daffy Duck) Tracy's comics were known for their liberal use of gunplay and the up-to-date technology advances (notably the wristwatch communicator), which got their fair share of screen time on this excellent movie. The music was done wonderfully by Danny Elfman, and the original songs by Madonna were interesting, but they were not the high point for her career. It's weird because as you watch the film and see the suspenseful moments, the film feels so much like Batman because of Elfman's memorable sound to his pieces.I love the tough-talking kid, Pacino's acting as Big Boy Caprice (and that chin!), Madonna's take on villainy, and the cinematography and directing were impeccable. This film was very professionally made and features tons of great actors who were known as great actors for a while before this film was made (Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, William Forsythe, Dustin Hoffman, Kathy Bates, Mandy Patinkin, Catherine O'Hara, Dick Van Dyke). The film was directed by Beatty himself, which was interesting. It is almost like Beatty saw himself as Tracy in a past life or something because he really fit the part.I had to give this film an 8/10 for everything that it brought to cinema that got overlooked (for whatever reason). There have been tons of misunderstandings over the rating of this movie on IMDb, and I still don't understand why. The characters were completely original and vibrant, as was the style of the sets, wardrobe, lighting, and everything in this film. Go buy it today. You will not be sorry.

Sparking, volatile comic strip caper with colourful visuals.

`Dick Tracy' is a film that has divided audiences. There are those who think it is too over-the-top to comprehend, and those who regard it as a slick, colourful and enjoyable picture. I fall closer to the latter in terms of opinion. While it is far from realistic, it isn't a film to be taken seriously. The real beauty lies in the polished 2D set decoration that brilliantly resembles the cardboard cut-out look of the newspaper-strip comic. Well done to Oscar winning art director Richard Sylbert.The exuberantly synthetic streets and glaring reflection of the roads are a beauty to gaze it. Also top-notch is the costume design. Suits and ties are given the appropriately bizarre coloured look, while the images of the gangsters are as grotesque as one could hope for. While it's easy to discard this off as a `technical' movie, there's enough diluted substance to satisfy all genuine expectations. The narrative isn't as limp as one might think. Sure, for the most part it is reduced to a series of stylised set-pieces, but this isn't supposed to be `Casablanca'. Rarely have superhero movies received so much of Uncle Oscar's attention. Nominated for 7 Academy Awards (winning three), surely this has broken a record. Sometimes engrossing, often very hammy, all is done with deliberate intentions.Seldom has this genre received such a classy cast either. Warren Beauty produced, directed and starred in the picture. Quite the hat-trick, he does a great job on all accounts. Not only does he personify the image of Dick Tracy; he also perfectly balances the two elements that make this film work- charm and style. Hoo-haa; Al Pacino was Oscar nominated for his part as typically cheesy gangster- Big Boy Caprice. I have to admit, that's crossing the line (was the performance really worth the Academy's attention?) but he's not bad.Madonna is appropriately slutty as exotic dancer Breathless Mahoney. As if this wasn't enough, all is bolstered by fine supporting turns from the likes of James Caan, William Forsythe and Glenne Headly. Also in there are `blink and you'll miss them' cameos from Kathy Bates, Estelle Parsons and Catherine O'Hara, as are eccentric parts for actors who just faded away over the years (Mandy Patinkin, Charles Durning, Paul Sorvino et al).The script is appropriately done like one continuous comic strip with twists and tangents at every turn. Clearly, the film is not for all tastes. As I said, there are plenty that just won't see the point and believe it to be another triumph of style over substance. It was one of the first to do so- this war began in the late 80's/ early 90's in pictures such as `Wild At Heart' and `Total Recall'. In the end, style won. Not only that, it loses some momentum and collapses a tad in the final third.Not to worry- the glittering sets and illustrious props overshadow all. When the cover's this pretty, who cares what's inside. Not saying that the film's hollow or anything. If you want some illustrious comic-strip mayhem, you can't go far wrong with `Dick Tracy'. My IMDb rating: 6.8/10.

Outta Chicago, by Hopper

Not Dennis, but Edward Hopper, painter of lonely souls in harsh-lit diners. Well worth a watch, if only for its wall-to-wall ugliness. Beatty does a great impersonation of Elliot Ness, aka Robert Stack, who had the most immobile features in the business. This is history: how the American mid-West dream was destroyed by urban corruption and big-city values, and, of course, Prohibition. An object-lesson in the way pure comic-book stereotypes can make you think a bit. Someone said this film was disturbing. It is. Nietzche and Plato are defeated by simple family values. Who wrote these songs ? Was it Sondheim, or someone else called Elfman? Madonna is great, but the songs just seem ordinary, to me. I guess Sondheim is an acquired taste I haven't acquired yet. Great cast, great acting, very unusual design, direction, many good lines and all that, but all over a little too hideous to swallow in the end. Mutton stew gone cold.

One of the Better Comic Book Movies...

Bringing comic books to the screen is a rather recent trend in cinema but it looks like it is definitely here to stay and one of the best offerings of this genre was the 1990 version of DICK TRACY, Warren Beatty's colorful and smart re-thinking of the square-jawed comic book character. Beatty has mounted a beauty of a film here that is gorgeous to look at (the film won an Art Direction Oscar for its flawless and dazzling settings as well as for Costume Design). Beatty has also wisely chosen to underplay and let his huge, all-star cast shine in their various roles and above them all is Al Pacino, who walks away with the film effortlessly with his completely over the top but totally watchable performance as Big Boy Caprice, I don't think Pacino has ever been funnier on film and even received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his efforts. Madonna also leaves an impression as Breathless Mahoney (one of my all time favorite movie character names)as do Paul Sorvino as Lips Manlin, and Mandy Patinkin as 88 Keys among others. Patinkin and Madonna give effective service to the songs by Broadway genius Stephen Sondheim (one of them, "Sooner or Later", also won an Oscar). Though fairly predictable, DICK TRACY is a colorful and entertaining ride through comic book land that is definitely worth a look. A treat for the eye and ear.

A work Of Genius!

This is truly a work of genius, especially on the part of Al Pacino. Al Pacino totally transforms himself into the conflicted, not so conflicted criminal, Big Boy Caprice, who plots to run the city. His performance, which was undoubtedly a lot of fun, exceeds almost anything that he has done. He really should have won an Oscar for this heartfelt portrayal of a comic book character brought to life on the big screen.

Though some of Madonna's acting was a little hammy, it fits well with the general theme of the movie. The lines, looks, poses and especially Madonna's singing were truly galactic, in stature as well as proportion, and establishes her firmly on the realm of awesome talent.

The rest of the players, actors and artist in this flick were also "top drawer", and are by no means secondary in terms of ability or contribution to this wonderful flick. Whether by the vivid colors, the thirties cityscapes or the harbor, with the looming ocean liners, which were state of the are travel of that day, and look the part here. The director, Warren Betty, did an outstanding job of bringing thirties comic book texture, simplicity, innocence and complexity to life in what is an artistic blockbuster. I am glad that I rediscovered this treasure!

Film/Comic Book Noir at its Best

With great performances from Al Pacino to Dustin Hoffman, music by Sondheim and Danny Elfman, and beautiful colors and costumes, this is a truly unique and highly enjoyable movie each time you watch it.

watercolored up the yin yang!

if you sit through this movie and don't enjoy it...then you're a fool! Warren Beatty at what i think is his best! an all star cast, hoffman, pacino, madonna, caan, and the other people! The movie was non-stop entertainment and really captured the feel of the comic strips.

Well, not bad!

The script lives up to its subject, a cartoon strip, but fans of the old Dick Tracy won't be disappointed. Our old favorite characters are all there and the soundtrack, especially Madonna's sexy "Sooner or Later" is fabulous. The production values are great, with a definite comic book feel and appearance, and even if we didn't get all these great items to enjoy, there's the cameo and casting with some of Hollywood's brightest stars. Definitely worth adding to your DVD collection

Old Time Fun

A good movie with lots of known players. Good clean fun. Brings back the good old days. Enjoyable.

He's on his way...to a REALLY entertaining movie.

Usually, when we use the word "escapist", we mean it negatively; Warren Beatty's big screen version of "Dick Tracy" proves that "escapist" can be good. This is truly one entertaining movie. As the eponymous, yellow-clad, fearless title character, Beatty creates a detective to whom we can all relate: ready for action, but not without his weaknesses.From there, the rest of characters are almost a world unto themselves. Tess Truehart (Glenne Headly) is as glamorous as one would expect the hubby of any crime fighter to be; Breathless Mahoney (Madonna) is possibly the most perplexing person imaginable; Big Boy Caprice (Al Pacino) is the average villain: ruthless but cool. Other characters include the speech-challenged Mumbles (Dustin Hoffman), the over-musical 88 Keys (Mandy Patinkin), and The Kid (Charlie Korsmo). Charles Durning, James Caan, Dick Van Dyke, Estelle Parsons, Catherine O'Hara, Seymour Cassel, Paul Sorvino and Kathy Bates also star.Oh, wait a minute. I haven't even explained the plot! The plot involves Tracy trying - and failing so far - to find some way to nab Big Boy. Simultaneously, some very bizarre events have been going on in town, the answers to which may or may not be closer than everyone thinks.Of course, the main thing about this movie is that it's fun to watch. If Warren Beatty was having trouble acting his age, then he made good use of that here. "Dick Tracy" is one cool movie.

Yes, that's Dustin Hoffman mumbling in the corner

The story doesn't matter. The plot doesn't matter. How could we identify with these fake characters anyway? What matters here is fidelity to the comic strip and the interesting effects on our eyes as we see what a cartoon looks like come to life, so to speak. The shadow of Dick Tracy thrown large against the warehouse wall, the sharp brim of his hat, his square jaw, the drawn gun proceeding him, as Chester Gould so often drew him-this is what counts. Combining cartoon drawings, such as city streets and building facades and billboards in the background, with flesh and blood characters in the foreground makes for an interesting montage. The little shack, made small by the night sky and the big city towers, as in a Taoist drawing, is also true to a Gould frame. The intense contrasting and clashing colors, especially Tracy's yellow top coat and yellow hat, and Tess Trueheart's red, red dress and red hair-all these intense reds and greens and blues treat our eyes to something different.

Problem is, who cares? Or "so what?" as Popeye used to say. Madonna does her one-millionth Marilyn Monroe imitation. It's okay, although I would prefer the real thing. Al Pacino, with the prodigious proboscis, aptly burlesques his character, but what's the point? Warren Beatty (did he reject a fake jaw to stay pretty?) works hard to be the square-jawed, taciturn Tracy, and that's a handicap because then there is nothing to do except swing fists and spray bullets. Glenne Headly, trying to project some heart felt emotion, comes off as terribly out of place, since how can you weep for the love of a cartoon?

The gutter snipe kid befriended by Tracy, played memorably by Charlie Korsmo ("Suck eggs, copper!"), stands out somehow as the only one who seems real; and maybe that's right because only a kid could find involvement in such a shallow, if decorous enterprise.

Sharp-eyed movie aficionados will have fun picking out the star-studded cast behind the cartoon faces.

Loved the comic strip, loved the movie

As a reader of Dick Tracy growing up in the 60's and early 70's I couldn't wait to get to the theater and see this movie when it came out, and I wasn't disappointed. The colors, the makeup, and the unforgettable villains make this one of my all-time favorites. Now if they would have included Mr. Bribery and Ugly Christine in with the other villains this movie would stand alone as my all-time favorite.

Simply Perfect

Dick Tracy is THE best comic book movie ever made. For that matter, one of the best made, period. There is so much to say about this film, that it is hard to point out the best things about it.

The art direction, the attention to detail, the music, the acting, the makeup, the story. I could go on and on. You simply can't take your eyes off of it.

This is how films used to be made and it is sad that only a few films since have come close to the "tongue-in-cheek" style of this film (The Mummy most recently.)

Al Pacino steals the film! To me, this is HIS film. And I was also impressed by Madonna and Glenne Headly.

It is hard to say why most people didn't like this film. Was it not violent enough? Did they want nudity? Did they want something vulgar? Well, if so, they wont get it with this film!

I give this film an A+.

Stylish fun.

Dick Tracy starring Warren Beatty is a stylish and colorful film based on the comic book but the plot is not so hot. The cast is great, Warren, Madonna, Al Pacino and many more light up the screen. Madonna who plays Breathless Mahoney is fabulous in this movie, she sings as well. After all these years, Dick Tracy kind of loses its luster but the picture quality is wonderful so check this '90s classic out soon!

A Comic Book Style

I saw Dick Tracy when I was very young. I didn't know who any of the actors were, and I didn't know the movie would turn out different than the way it was previewed. I sure loved it though.Warren Beatty stars as the crime-fighting 1930's detective Dick Tracy who goes after the biggest mob bosses in the city. This time, Big Boy Caprice (Al Pacino) has killed a very powerful man and is out to take over the city with his singer girlfriend Breathless Mahoney (Madonna) who has her eye on Tracy. It becomes even worse because a new criminal is invading and the worst part is: this criminal has no face. He or she is very unknown. Plus, the famous villians are back from the comic book collection.I thought that this movie was very colorful and creative. It was entertaining and fun to watch especially as a child. Warren Beaty was just like James Bond of the 1930's the way he played Dick Tracy.An ensemble cast of the film includes: Charlie Korsmo, Glenn Headly, William Forsythe, Dustin Hoffman, James Caan, Ed O' Ross, Tommy Lee Jones, Mandy Patinkin, Charles Durning. Plus More!Dick Tracy is a movie for all ages and is a fun movie for a family to enjoy. Take my word for it.

Dick Tracy versus Big Boy Caprice!

The first thing that grabs you with this film is the amazing visuals. Warren Beatty has created a huge comic strip world, with bright colours and cartoon-like characters. Combined with the brilliant lighting, the visuals really stand out.Another good thing is Al Pacino. Its good to see his over-acting style put to use in this gangster film. Warren Beatty is also good, but I'm not sure about Madonna. I think the only reason she is in it is because she can sing, but her acting isn't really oscar material.This film is definitely worth seeing. 8/10.

All style, almost no substance, but still one of the most enjoyable films ever

I was shocked to see how unrated this film was. The characters, the special effects, the costumes, the soundtrack, the cars, the mix of dark and colorful environments, all of it make this film different from the rest, and it should be rewarded for being unique. Plus, it's entertaining, funny at times, and has a good storyline. The script could be better, but we're talking about a comic book saga, so that's not of importance. If you like watching films with these kind of things, it definitely deserves a watch. But if you praise just the script and the background, then I wouldn't recommend it.I give this movie a 10/10, I never get bored while watching it (and i've have watched it a hundred times) but it has so many positive things that the cheesy script is forgivable.

Pacino was great, Beatty was not.

This was a fun movie, with many similarities to a comic strip, such as the villians and the colors, but I don't think that Warren Beatty could have possibly been worse. He was so cheesy in it, and granted, it's a rather un-serious movie, but man was he bad! Al Pacino was great though and even received an oscar nomination for this one. Madonna was more attractive in this role than any others she has taken on (A League of their Own, Evita), and Dustin Hoffman's tiny role as Mumbles was fascinating. Obviously don't see this movie expecting to see reality. The backgrounds were extremely fake, as well as Beatty's acting. It's fun to watch though. The PG rating was surprisingly too mild for this film. There is a substatial amount of (nongraphic) violence and even some sexual innuendo. It was fun though.