Someone to Watch Over Me (1987)

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Ridley Scott's SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME had the misfortune to come out during a time when FATAL ATTRACTION was going to change the whole look of the psycho-thriller movie. Thus by comparison, this film feels very ponderous and dated. It's a mixed bag of a production, with some decent performances and a nice visual style, but it doesn't really do much we haven't seen before.It's clear from the outset that Scott is most interested in the dark and brooding cinematography here, because this is a fine-looking movie. The plot, which is about a cop who has to protect a woman who witnessed a mob murder, is less intriguing and indeed rather predictable. Tom Berenger is an acceptable hero and Mimi Rogers is ever-intriguing as the object of his desire, but I can't help but think there's a little too much romance here and not enough thrills. Jerry Orbach props up the supporting cast, as in so many films.

This film couldn't have been more 80's if it was wearing leg-warmers. Shot with all the depth and meaning of an MTV video, it's ludicrously plotted, poorly acted and surprisingly, considering it's a Ridley Scott feature, rather boringly directed if truth be told.Let's take the plot first and take your pick from the most far-fetched scenario, from the unlikely relationship between ever so rich, ever so posh Mimi Rogers and ever so working-class, ever so gauche Tom Berenger, to the mad murderer running about New York, coming back for lone witness, even after he's improbably let out on bail after a murder attempt, to the finale when Berenger's estranged wife comes to his aid in the most dramatic way and of course takes him back.As for the acting, I didn't detect any heat between the leads at all, a situation not helped by Scott deciding not to give us a big sex-scene involving them, which while I'm no advocate for X-rated scenes, felt something more could have been done to explain the unlikely liaison between the two of them. They make a good-looking couple, but their characterisations are too one-dimensional, Rogers as the poor little rich girl and particularly Berenger with his sub-Rocky like enunciation and dumb-lunk portrayal.I also felt there was too little action in the film and the intended suspense-ful bits were lacking in tension and th soundtrack an uneasy mix of jazz and pop, with the title song played far too often, no matter if it is in different guises.It's certainly a beautifully shot film but the colours are too ripe as if the cameras are in permanent soft-focus mode, over-prettifying the cinematography.I've struggled all through this review trying to avoid saying style over content, but there you go, I've said it...and I mean it.

If you are reading this review you probably know the overall plot, and it doesn't bother me that it's been done before. But there are so many things in this movie that don't make any sense that it becomes annoying. The description of the movie tells you the rich socialite is being protected by an average NYPD officer so I hope it's no spoiler that the "bad guy" had numerous occasions to kill this woman but could never quite seal the deal. Some of which were comical in a sense(I could have done better.) Yes, it's a movie and to kill off the lady in the first few minutes wouldn't make much of a movie. It is pretty predictable up to the end which was way over the top. Most things in the movie seemed over done, say the stereotypical NY Queens wife and NY cop. Or scenes that just didn't seem to fit in. The scene with the wife fixing the carburetor just seemed misplaced. It does drag you in and you want to know where it is going, but it just wasn't a very enjoyable ride.

A good plot premise from Howard Franklin and a likable performance from Mimi Rogers are about the only things going for this Ridley Scott film, "Someone to Watch Over Me".The script is slow and sadly predictable. The usual visual splendour and fantastic cinematography that we have come to expect from Scott as a director of such fine films as "Alien", "Bladerunner" and "Black Rain", are all missing here.Although there was little scope with which Ridley Scott could have worked, he has only done enough to make this 'thriller' just entertaining. Just.Thursday, June 27, 1991 - Video