Best Seller [Hard Cover] **** (1987, James Woods, Brian Dennehy, Victoria Tennant) – Classic Movie Review 9642

Director John Flynn’s 1987 thriller Best Seller [Hard Cover] stars Brian Dennehy in an unusual cosy performance as Dennis Meechum, a cop-turned-author who survives a violent robbery and remembers the appearance of one of his attackers (James Woods on his best crazy form as the hitman Cleve) who later approaches him to write his life-story.

Best Seller is an exciting action picture as well as a clever character study of two men playing a deadly game of cat and mouse. It is written by the commendable Larry Cohen.

Only Flynn’s anonymous direction and the rather disappointing ending slightly let it down, but it can still be highly regarded.

Also in the cast are Victoria Tennant, Allison Balson, Paul Shenar, George Coe, Anne Pitoniak, Mary Carver, Sully Boyar, Kathleen Lloyd, and Charles Tyner.

Best Seller [Hard Cover] is directed by John Flynn, runs 110 minutes, is made by Hemdale, is released by Orion Pictures (1987) (US) and Rank Film Distributors (1987) (UK), is written by Larry Cohen, is shot by Fred Murphy, is produced by Carter de Haven, is scored by Jay Ferguson and is designed by Gene Rudolf.

RIP legendary iconic actor Brian Dennehy, who died on 15 April 2020, aged 81. He is remembered for First Blood, F/X, Gorky Park, Cocoon, Silverado, Legal Eagles, Presumed Innocent and Tommy Boy.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9642

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