Touches You

As Good As It Gets

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Hollywood Cop is the first of five American movies made by Iranian director Amir Shervan in the late 1980s and early 1990s. All of them are very cheap and unconvincing action thrillers that have gained something of a cult reputation thanks to their wooden acting, famous appearances, and general air of cheesiness that makes them entertaining viewing.This film is slightly underwhelming but contains elements of Shervan's later cult hits like SAMURAI COP. It's a bit tame and low rent compared to the director's other "hits". A renegade cop under the unlikely name of Turkey goes after a gang of kidnappers who have taken a little blond haired boy. The kidnappers are led by Jim Mitchum, who is really slumming it by appearing in this.Cameron Mitchell plays in support as a hard-nosed cop superior. The movie features episodic action scenes and Shervan's favoured shoot-outs in which the pistols sound like hand cannons. There's a rape scene in a hotel room and a lot of chasing around. The acting is as wooden as you'd expect and David Goss's lead character is a hoot. Aldo Ray and Troy Donahue also have small cameos. One sex scene utilises a wall mirror in the bedroom so you get double the amount of screen nudity - it's that type of exploitative approach.

A drought of inspiration that marks this sloppily made film will be followed by a deluge of revulsion from many who must overcome their better judgement in order to watch it through to its conclusion. The film opens as "Feliciano" (James Mitchum) and a group of his absurdly vulgar henchmen are engaged in planning their next criminal enterprise, kidnapping a small boy, an action intended to induce the lad's father to fork over six million dollars that he purportedly stole from this mini-mob. We then see Feliciano and his associates as they raid some sort of horse ranch upon which the targeted boy and his mother reside, therewith yanking the youngster from his mother's arms and slaughtering numerous ranch hands, using automatic weapons. The story then shifts to the mean streets of Hollywood, California, where a "rogue cop", Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant Turquoise (Turkey), played by David Goss, assigned to the Department's Hollywood Station, along with his somewhat more manageable partner "Jaguar" (Lincoln Kilpatrick), struggle manfully with the Forces of Evil, depicted against a less than authentic law enforcement procedural backdrop. In between ordering and eating a hot dog from a street vendor, Turkey and Jaguar attack and mow down a couple of rapists in the act, as it were, following which they run into who else but the kidnapped tot's mother, who has peculiarly been instructed by Feliciano to stroll along Hollywood Boulevard in an attempt at somehow locating her estranged husband (and, of course, the six million dollars). Following the traditional "Give me your badge, you're fired!" interim with Turkey's supervising Captain, performed with strident ineptitude by a once competent Cameron Mitchell, a relieved-of-duty Turkey grimly strives to rescue the kidnapped boy. This is a decision that requires him to be specially nimble, as the remainder of the film matches him in opposition to a particularly violent band of thugs armed with a broad range of weaponry. On the face of it, the film functions without a director, and with a screenplay that is probably a mere outline only, as only seldom does a scene offer a semblance of order. It is understandable that the cast may lack inspiration from this crude connection of sex and sadism, wherein entirely well-shaped characteristics cannot be found. A musical background is provided throughout the picture, unfortunate in the event, as it is a loud and boring piece, repeated endlessly, not stilled even when inappropriate, and never to be described as having specifically addressed any screen action. This low-budget affair had yet enough funding for deciding in favour of casting a large group of extras as ruthless (albeit incompetent) Feliciano goons, and also a surplus of nubile females who take any opportunity to aimlessly meander about. In a story wherein it would be difficult to determine which collection of antagonists is the more irresponsible, the camera-work adds little interest. The film's episodes are generally shot in the foothills of Hollywood and its environs. A basic requirement for any production is preparation, but this obviously was not foremost in the minds of this picture's creators, with a result being a pitiable effort that wants for intelligence as well as imagination.

Haha .. All i know about this movie is that its theme song was performed by Andy Madadian the very very famous Persian singer over 18 years ago now!! ANDY IS STILL GOING!! and is doing better than ever! I've just seen him live at an open air concert in Frankfurt last week on the night following the Team Melli Iran Vs Portugal Match. He was truly amazing!!! I've never seen the film though lol! oh well...Although we lost the match the atmosphere in Frankfurt was truly amazing and was one of the best experiences of my life.The film was made the year i was born so i guess its gonna be pretty hard to get hold of now, i think i shall try though as it would be interesting to see the movie. Andy has featured in a number of other Hollywood films following the release of this movie. check out his site if you like: Andymusic.com.Benjamin! (Ey Javidan Iran)

There is no doubt that Amir watched Lethal Weapon and it spawned genius. Hollywood Cop has it's great moments. The scene where the "Arab Man" somehow SLITS the dude's head off made me choke with delight. Especially the comment he makes about "His Laws". There are some decent TnA shots, which is always a plus. The speech that the dead beat dad gives his son is pretty good too. Sadly the gang members are not that ruthless, the kid talks too much, and lets face it: The acting is just TOO GOOD. If you really want a great laugh, watch Samurai Cop (The funniest of Amir's Holy Trinity). It has just about everything better than Hollywood Cop.Also, the car chase scene at the end is almost worthy of being in a good B movie. Almost.