kiss kiss bang bang

Review: James Garner Is Raymond Chandler’s MARLOWE

Raymond Chandler’s iconic – and laconic – private detective Philip Marlowe has been fodder for Hollywood all the way back to Murder, My Sweet in 1944 starring Dick Powell. That film ripped Marlowe from the pages of Chandler’s [...]

June 25, 2026

Mark Wahlberg & LaKeith Stanfield in the poster for Play Dirty

Trailer: Mark Wahlberg & LaKeith Stanfield In Shane Black’s PLAY DIRTY

Very few people working in movies today possess the sheer word dexterity of Shane Black. Black’s work as a screenwriter speaks for itself – Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and The Nice Guys [...]

August 26, 2025

1970s style artwork for The Nice Guys with Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling.

Blu-ray Review: Russell Crowe & Ryan Gosling Impress In Shane Black’s THE NICE GUYS

Shane Black’s The Nice Guys is a witty slice of throwback 1970s-set noir that packs a hugely entertaining punch. Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling play Jackson Healey and Holland March, two down on their luck Los Angeles detectives tracking down a [...]

July 8, 2025

Obituary: Val Kilmer Dies Aged 65

I’ve been writing about movies for nearly 20 years and I’ve written many obituaries (too many) about filmmakers and actors that I have admired. Writing about Val Kilmer’s death is a tough one. I’ve been a fan for over 30 [...]

April 2, 2025

Remembering Shane Black’s KISS KISS BANG BANG Starring Robert Downy Jr & Val Kilmer

Famed screenwriter, Shane Black made his directorial debut in 2005 with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Black’s film, based on Brett Halliday’s novel, Bodies Are Where You Find Them is a near flawless modern noir and the script sizzles with [...]

December 9, 2021

Powerful Trailer For Val Kilmer Documentary VAL

From when he first came to prominence in the 1980s, Val Kilmer has always been an actor who was difficult to pin down. From Real Genius and Top Secret! to Top Gun, The Doors and Batman Forever and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Kilmer has always made [...]

July 7, 2021

Documentary VAL Set To Explore The Life & Career Of The Mighty Val Kilmer

The mighty Val Kilmer is set to be the focus of a new documentary titled, Val which was produced by A24 and acquired by Amazon Studios in the U.S. and Latin America. A24 will distribute the film throughout the rest of the world and there are [...]

May 28, 2021

Uncovering Curiosities: Joseph Ruben’s PENTHOUSE NORTH

Actors don’t get any better than Michael Keaton – they really don’t. Keaton doesn’t work nearly enough and it is always welcome to see him on screen. He gets the lead role in director Joseph Ruben’s 2013 thriller Penthouse [...]

April 17, 2021

Behind The Scenes: Shane Black Directs Ryan Gosling & Russell Crowe On The Set Of THE NICE GUYS

A wonderful slice of entertainment, 2016 The Nice Guys is Shane Black doing what he does best (although maybe not pushing himself). The film riffs on his previous back-catalogue, mixing in a 1970s groove to keep things feeling fresh. It’s a shame [...]

April 8, 2021

Uncovering Curiosities: Stephen Rick’s THE SUPER

The great Val Kilmer takes on the title role in 2017’s The Super, a horror-mystery-thriller set in a high-rise New York apartment building. It’s great to see Kilmer back on form, offering-up a tremendously chilly performance as the [...]

March 17, 2021

Top Christmas Movies: KISS KISS BANG BANG

2005’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang saw Shane Black directing Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr in this wonderful action comedy. Kilmer was post-Batman, Downey was pre-Iron Man and they share great chemistry in this witty Christmas Noir. At the time of [...]

December 8, 2020

Uncovering Curiosities: Robert Altman’s THE LONG GOODBYE

Elliott Gould plays Raymond Chandler’s iconic and laconic private detective, Philip Marlow in this screen adaptation of The Long Goodbye. Robert Altman directs this film, which oozes 70s cinematic style. Altman’s film sees Marlowe investigate [...]

September 11, 2020

Remembering Shane Black’s KISS KISS BANG BANG

Shane Black’s 2005 directorial debut, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a near flawless modern noir. Black’s script sizzles with wit and one-liners and Robert Downey Jr and Val Kilmer are perfect as the leads. Kilmer was post-Batman, Downey was [...]

April 24, 2020

The Top 100 Films Of The 21st Century…So Far

Movies In Focus was inspired to put together a Top 100 Films Of The 21st Century list after reading the recent piece in Empire which listed the top movies of the century as voted for by the magazine’s readers. It was a pretty damning list [...]

January 21, 2020

Movies In Focus’ Top Christmas Movies

As curmudgeonly as Movies In Focus can be, I do appreciate Christmas (it’s probably my favourite time of the year). I thought it was about time that I put together a list of my favourite Christmas film, so I rolled-up my sleeves and dug into the [...]

December 19, 2018

Review: Val Kilmer Dials Up The Creepy In Horror-Mystery THE SUPER

Val Kilmer returns to the screen in The Super, a horror-mystery-thriller set in a high-rise New York apartment building. It’s great to see Kilmer back on form, offering-up a tremendously chilly performance as the superintendent who appears to be [...]

October 6, 2018