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Released by: MGM Limited Edition Collection
Released on: December 23, 2011.
Director: Michael Winner
Cast: Roger Moore, Michael Caine, Sally Kirkland
Year: 1990
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The Movie:
So, at the other end of the career spectrum for Mr. Michael Winner, we've got Bullseye, an incredibly goofy, hammy, juvenile caper film featuring Michael Caine and Roger Moore in the leads.
Both also play dual roles as their good-guy versions are Sidney (Caine) and Gerald (Moore), two longtime thieves who are led to one last big score by their old partner/fling, Willie (Sally Kirkland). It turns out that Sidney and Gerald are dead ringers for two high-profile nuclear physicists named Dr. Hicklar (Caine, with an egregious American accent) and Sir Bevistock (Moore). The scientists have pioneered a breakthrough in cold fusion technology - which is hilariously naively demonstrated at the opening of the film but, hey, it's the 90's - and are seeking to sell their find to the highest international bidder.
Unbeknownst to them, however, is the ever-watchful eye of their financial backers in the CIA and MI5. So as Sidney and Gerald make off with their dopplegangers' diamonds (somehow used as their financial capital) they're set upon by the government agencies to help lure out the real criminals. Double-crosses, great late-80s fashion, fart jokes, dead cabin stewards and dog sex ensue as they move from London to Scotland for the final bidding war/showdown. Oh and John Cleese shows up at the very end as himself, repeating an area code over and over. If that sounds weird, well, so is this movie.
Video/Audio/Extras:
This release from MGM's Limited Edition Collection comes with the very bare minimum of just the film itself. It's also 4:3 full-screen but that seems to serve this movie just fine since it seems like it was made for TV. The picture quality is just fine, though, and upscales nicely on newer monitors. The best upgrade on this release, though, is the Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround track - it actually gets used rather heavily and well. That seems a surprise, given the incredibly light tone of this movie but is a welcome surprise, nevertheless.
Summary:
If you like old men being wacky, making wacky and very dated jokes about Michael Jackson, Madonna and Rob Lowe, then this is your film. It's probably a good one to watch either with your folks or with your 8-year-old nephew.
