Miami Blues **** (1990, Fred Ward, Alec Baldwin, Jennifer Jason Leigh) – Classic Movie Review 9752

Writer-director George Armitage’s 1990 neo noir thriller Miami Blues stars Fred Ward as jaded Miami cop Sgt. Hoke Moseley, who is on the trail of extremely nasty ex-con Frederick J ‘Fred’ Frenger Jr (Alec Baldwin), who has teamed up with pretty student/ hooker Susie Waggoner (Jennifer Jason Leigh).

Baldwin puts Ward out of action, stealing his badge and gun so he can stop criminals and pinch their loot.

Miami Blues is an impressively raw, wry Nineties new wave thriller, with a good line in offbeat humour, which delves deep into the criminal psyche. This atypical role remains one of the best things Baldwin has done. Ward and Leigh are excellent too.

Based on Charles Willeford’s novel, Miami Blues is tough, edgy, sometimes shocking stuff that delivers smart thriller entertainment with a real punch.

Also in the cast are Cecilia Pérez-Cervera, Charles Napier, Georgie Cranford, Edward Saxon, José Pérez, Obba Babatundé, Paul Gleason, Tony Paris, Wendy Thorlakson and Martine Beswick.

George Armitage is the director of Vigilante Force (1976), Private Duty Nurses (1971) and Hit Man (1972).

Miami Blues is directed by George Armitage, runs 98 minutes, is made by Tristes Tropiques, is released by Rank (UK) and Orion (US), is written by George Armitage, based on Charles Willeford’s novel, is shot by Tak Fujimoto, is produced by Jonathan Demme, Gary Goetzman and Fred Ward, is scored by Gary Chang, and designed by Maher Ahmad.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9752

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com