Mad Dog and Glory *** (1993, Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman, Bill Murray) – Classic Movie Review 5533

Produced by Martin Scorsese and Barbara de Fina, this dark and cynical 1993 thriller is a simple story of everyday violent folk, told with brio artificial style and remarkably little gore by John McNaughton, the director of Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) and Normal Life (1996). Written by Richard Price, it is totally unbelievable as a realistic drama, but then surely it is intended as just a black joke. In real life, which mobster actually moonlights as a stand-up comedian? This is only a movie.

Bill Murray stars as a stand-up comic, club owner and vicious mobster named Frank Milo, who is saved from a killer by a lonely, scared small-time cop Wayne ‘Mad Dog’ Dobie (Robert De Niro), and gives him a woman called Glory (Uma Thurman) for a week as a reward. The pair fall in love, but then De Niro’s Mad Dog will not give Thurman’s Glory back and Murray’s Milo becomes very, very angry.

Cast against type, Murray gives an astonishing, chilling performance full of displays of petty spite and rage, developing a character that is a self-conscious parody. De Niro’s cop is equally electrifying and self-mocking. Thurman seems lost in this man’s world, merely a pretty puppet to be tossed back and forth, but then that is her ungrateful part.

McNaughton films on obvious sets and with knowing ‘hey look at me’ flourishes of the camera in the notable Technicolor cinematography of Robby Müller. Elmer Bernstein’s saxophone-led score is another asset.

It runs 96 minutes but it all seems over in a few minutes, and leaves you begging for another half hour or so, which must be a good sign.

It is another bad karma new wave Hollywood movie of its era, and, although it is not terribly violent, it still leaves quite a nasty taste in the mouth. There is of course some of the expected shooting, fighting and blood, as well as sex scenes and strong language.

Also in the cast are David Caruso, Mike Starr, Tom Towles and Richard Belzer.

In 2016 for its 30th anniversary, Dark Sky Films released a 4K restoration of Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer showing in US cinemas nationwide.

Bill Murray is to star with Josh Hutcherson and Linda Cardellini in McNaughton’s love story The King of Counterfeit.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5533

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