This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

This loosely-based remake of a 1947 film noir seems to have few followers, even after 17 years. It made no money in theaters and very few people have commented on it here. TV actor David Caruso plays Jimmy, a small-time criminal who gets sent back to the slammer after taking part in a bungled heist. Worse, his wife is killed in a car accident while he's doing time and his young daughter is sent to live with his hostile mother in law. When he gets out, the state and feds just won't leave him alone. They want him to help them nab Junior, played by a pumped-up, almost unrecognizable Nic Cage. Turns out Junior was the mastermind behind the fumbled heist and numerous other crimes. So Caruso's character goes undercover. The film is violent and foul-mouthed, a far cay from the Victor Mature-Richard-Widmark original. The story has been "opened up," as the 1947 version was largely a soundstage production. It's hard to compare the two, so many changes have been made and liberties taken with the 1995 remake. I watched the two films back to back the other night. Both have their merits. Caruso's Jimmy is a lot more spunky than Mature's hero, and Cage's over the top villain is worlds apart from Widmark's sneering, oily bad guy. Cage portrays Junior (called Tommy Udo in the 1947 version) as an over-sized psychopath with some very odd ticks and habits, and he is truly demented and scary. By comparison, Widmark's Udo is almost comical, a Damon Runyonesque gangster who would fit right in in a production of "Guys and Dolls." Plus the remake boasts a stellar supporting cast, including Helen Hunt as Jimmy's ill-fated wife, Stanley Tucci as a two-faced prosecutor, Michael Rappaport as Jimmy's larcenous cousin, Kathryn "Criminal Intent" Erbe as Jimmy's loyal friend and Sam Jackson as a detective who has a bone to pick with Jimmy. See both films. It couldn't hurt.

I'm going to keep this short for posterity sake if you like thrillers this movie is for you. If you like movies this movie is for you. Not only is the story amazing, that goes without saying, but it's the little subtleties that really make the difference; the directing in terms of the mise en scene present in divine, the lighting throughout is spectacular. All and all the The Kiss of Death is a great film, containing great acting, particularly by Nicolas Cage. Speaking of thrillers and Nic Cage he's got a new one coming out called Trespass that looks pretty cool. Check out the trailer then thank me for changing your life. http://bitly.com/qN22Cm

Everyone agrees that the casting was marque. And that it has great source material. But I feel it gets a bum rap with critics. And Nicolas Cage was exactly what the film needed. I thought so then and I think so now. Color, flash, and style. Something out of the ordinary to give it some desperately needed weight. And Cage makes weight. Literally. That is the strongest look I had seen since Stallone did "First Blood, Part II". Cage is a physical bull and it's impressive. I wouldn't have recognized him if I hadn't seen the trailer with his name on it beforehand. If you never saw this, see it. For no other reason than to be scared of Nic Cage. I was.

I loved this movie. It was exciting. It had Nicholas Cage in it. The mob was in it. Car chopping, Thugs killing each other. That red haired guy from CSI Miami - Nicholas Cage owned a strip club and liked to beat people up- I loved it.Thanks. Samuel Jackson was in it. What else..... Hell, I wish I could of been in it. I could of at least played a stripper. Nicholas Cage was buffed out. He was a bad ass. I loved it. He is so hot. I liked when they beat that guy up in the garage because the guy was supposed to give the girl a ride home but did'nt . She woke up and tried to steal the guy's car but got killed trying to escape. So, They went to the guy's garage and took him out.That's what I'm talking about.... Yeah.