Dead Heat (2002) User Reviews

Uneven , unpolished.....

[merklekranz · 6/10 · 3 January 2008]

The story seems to wander a lot, but somehow holds together enough to be enjoyable. The mixture of comedy and violence at times does not work well, and is the main fault I have with "Dead Heat". Kiefer Sutherland and Anthony LaPaglia have good chemistry when the film is in comedy mode, but their relationship loses steam as the drama increases. Daniel Benzali deserves special mention. He is excellent as the heavy. The racing scenes are unpolished, and by the way, what racetrack keeps horses in a corral? The on again, off again, love interest between Kiefer and and Radha Mitchell is somewhat redundant and could have been trimmed. Marginally recommended. - MERK

Not So Innocent Fun

[barry-thomas7 · 6/10 · 23 August 2002]

This is an enjoyable movie with polished acting, humerous one liners and a plot that sees a cop who has retired on medical grounds thrown into a situation that would see his doctor wanting to put him back in the force.

It is not the most original movie you will see, with the now expected cast including, the ex-wife, dodgy brother and cute bad kid BUT throw in a bent jockey, cheap racehorse and the mob and the whole thing ticks along nicely. This movie won't win oscars but will win friends...6.5/10

A Reasonable Movie With Ups and Downs

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 11 February 2004]

In Boston, the thirty-five years old detective Pally LaMarr (Kiefer Sutherland) has a heart attack while chasing a bandit, and is retired. Very depressed, he is almost committing suicide, when his wife Charlotte LaMarr (the gorgeous Australian actress Radha Mitchell), of whom he is in the middle of a process of divorce, calls his half-brother Ray LaMarr (Anthony La Paglia) to visit him. Ray is a small-time crook, and proposes the honest Polly to buy a horse per US$ 3,000.00. With a minor surgery and a suitable jockey, this horse would be a winner. Pally accepts, but Tony LaRoche ( Lothaire Bluteau), the jockey invited by Ray, is an addicted gambler in probation, having a debt of US$ 80,000.00 with the Mafia. Due to this invitation, Pally gets involved in many troubles. This movie has many ups and downs. When I think it will `take-off', it falls down. My impression is that the director got lost between a comedy and an action / crime / thriller movie. The result is not funny, there is no black humor and there is not much action. It may be a reasonable entertainment for a less exigent viewer. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): `No Encalço da Máfia' (`On the Heels of the Mafia')

Great chemistry makes a fun movie

[tnsmoke · 26 July 2002]

I ordered this DVD without even seeing the movie first, because I am a fan of both Kiefer Sutherland and of Anthony LaPaglia. From the little I read about it, I thought it was gonna be a straight drama, so, what a pleasant surprise to find so much humor in the movie. Kiefer, after working non-stop for years, is finally getting long over-due recognition for his excellent work in FOX TV's "24", and Anthony LaPaglia has been a fave since I saw him in the much underseen "29th Street". These two stars have great onscreen chemistry and it makes for a fun movie to watch. Kiefer plays a cop who is forced to retire after a heart attack, and isn't happy about being sidelined at age 35. Anthony plays his "on the other side of the law" hyper half-brother, who drags him kicking, into buying a racehorse. They get involved with mob guys and there are some very dark moments due to the danger suddenly brought to their lives, but, that horse brings Kiefer back to life and he and his brother will do anything to keep it. I think you'll like this flick.

Nicely predictable

[sturgess-2 · 5/10 · 23 July 2002]

Sutherland & La Paglia do their jobs his well, as do the supporting cast. There are a few twists to an otherwise predictable tale. Besides, any film with Lothaire Bluteau as a mobster is fun to watch. It was definitely worth the rental. I gave it 5 out of 10.

Far more entertaining than it should be.

[mooshoo89 · 7/10 · 7 October 2003]

Ok, so this isn't a great movie. But, it's entertaining, and the chemistry is spot-on. I admit, I dug the so-so romance between Sutherland and his estranged wife. I found the entire plot, while ill-constructed, fun enough to pass as a really well-meaning movie. It was fun, and the acting was good all around. Being the sucker for saucy fellows that I am, seeing Sutherland as such a good person was rather surprising, but he played it well all the same. I can't say I'd recommend this one for anything more than the channel surfer or the die hard Sutherland fan, but it's got some great moments and a fun little story, despite moments of obvious cheese and silliness.

definitely one of Kiefer's badder movies

[zainfazal3000 · 3/10 · 23 February 2005]

I admit this was one pretty bad movie. Kiefer has definitely done his share of bad films. and this is one of them The only reason I'm posting is because of the extremely ignorant comment posted by senortuffy How can you say Kiefer Sutherland's career is in the toilet? what planet are you on anyway? that lousy TV show that he stars in I assume you're referring to 24 is THE MOST WATCHED TELEVISION SHOW IN America Kiefer Sutherland and that show have won a lot of awards that's pretty good for a TV show which you refer to as "lousy" have ever even watched a single episode? you don't like Kiefer Sutherland and his work fine. but saying that his career is in the toilet is absolutely ridiculous.

Good Action, Good Acting, Overall a Fun Movie

[and_then_some · 7/10 · 10 July 2008]

Although Dead Heat lacks in budgeting it doesn't lack in casting. This cast works well as a team with no single actor trying to "hog" screen time. With a good balance of deep thought and funny moments Dead Heat can please many viewers at a time. The cinematography is wonderful and there are many shots that will take your breath away as you watch this film. However, weakness does occur in the storyline, but most of the time the viewer is too busy watching the movie to really care. It is only on third or fourth viewings that one really notices these flaws. Sutherland and LaPaglia work wonderfully together and create a very black and white duo on screen. This movie draws much humor from the disagreements between their characters because the dialogue is witty and the body language is accurate.It is a shame this movie can't be found in very many video stores as it is the perfect addition to any Sutherland or LaPaglia fans movie collection.

Thank God for 24

[forehead1 · 1/10 · 5 October 2005]

Kiefer Sutherland is and always has been a talented, powerful actor, who showed promise at a young age but has yet to find his place on the big screen. Why then, you may ask, did he decide it was a good idea to star in this inane piece of made-for-TV drivel? We can only hope he fired his agent afterwards.

The plot involves a retired police officer (Sutherland) being convinced to buy a stake in a racehorse by his small-time crook brother (Anthony LaPaglia), only to get caught up in a caper involving the local mob. All while trying to win back the affections of his estranged wife (Rhada Mitchell). Or at least I think that was what it was about. It's hard to concentrate when you're fighting the urge to fall asleep for the best part of 90 minutes.

An extremely dull series of events follow: so basic, unexciting and unfunny you have to marvel at how somebody could possibly pitch such a script, let alone succeed in getting it produced. A week-night, graveyard-slot film if ever I've seen one.

Usually I would think nothing more of such an effort, vowing to avoid future post-midnight screenings of movies I've never heard of. But with the acting talent involved in this it warranted a comment. I feel relieved for Sutherland and LaPaglia who have since struck gold with their prime-time television hits, and Mitchell who is continuing to forge a nice line of critically-acclaimed Hollywood roles (although, to be frank, neither of them manage to add any spark to the dreary proceedings around them in Dead Heat).

The only saving grace for the actors involved is that this effort flew so far under the radar it was never in a position where it could seriously endanger any of their careers.

That was an hour and a half of my life I will never get back.

What's worst could be happen side by side with LaPaglia???

[elo-equipamentos · 6/10 · 23 August 2019]

Naïve story of a retired policemen (Kiefer) after heart conditions, his world collapses including his marriage, smoking and drinking going fast into a self-destruction, almost perpetrate a suicide, then appears his unmatched friend (LaPaglia), a sort of a liar, scoundrel among others nameless "qualities " to buy a horse for a true bargain, they call a top-notch jockey to joint as partner, that's the problem, this guy is a compulsive jinx gambler, who owe 80.000 bucks to the mob, fine premise indeed, however the movie starts in slow pace, perhaps the best thing that the picture offers is LaPaglia's funniest performance, well developed sense of humor, the remaining was spoils by the awful Hollywood's formula a packet of romance, altruism and the happy ending, let it see easily, nevertheless nothing fresh at sight!!! Mainly by more demanding custumers!!

Resume:

First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 6.25

Just a terrible film.

[senortuffy · 3/10 · 13 October 2003]

This movie has absolutely nothing going for it. The action is contrived, it isn't funny, and the acting is lousy.

Kiefer Sutherland is the focus of the movie. He's an ex-cop in Boston (the movie was filmed in British Columbia, with Hastings Park the track shown), who had a heart attack on the job and retired. He starts drinking heavily and his wife leaves him. His half brother (Anthony Lapaglia) wants to cheer him up, so he talks him into buying a race horse who only needs a minor operation to return to his former glory. But the jockey they hire to ride the horse is into the mob for lots of money, so the two owners have to win a big bet on an upcoming stakes race in order to pay everyone off and keep the horse.

Sutherland and Lapaglia play this as a comedy, but it isn't funny when one of the mob guys is killed (Kiefer and his estranged wife, who he's trying to win back, go and bury the body while the jockey's little girl sleeps in the back seat - nice). The jockey double-crosses the mobsters and wins the race, and is then shot while attempting to get away.

The movie ends when a goofy and contrite Kiefer Sutherland, walks out of the hospital after his second heart attack and shows up at his wife's door, where the jockey's little girl is staying. They make up and presumably live happily ever after.

I have no idea what the director was thinking when he made this mess. The racing action is all wrong - anyone who's ever been around horses can spot dozens of mistakes in the film. The attempts at humor fall flat too. And the central character is someone with virtually no redeeming qualities.

Kiefer Sutherland started out with such great promise ("The Lost Boys" was great) but between films like this and that lousy television show he stars in, I think his career is irretrievably in the toilet.

Hidden Gem!

[im_canadian_1 · 8/10 · 28 January 2005]

I rented this movie because I'm a Kiefer Sutherland fan and I was really surprised! It's a really good story. It's cute, funny and original. The actors deliver great performances! There is a love story, an action story and some good laughs. It's about Pally Lamar, an ex-cop whose a bit depressed. To get him back on track his step brother proposes they buy a slow racing horse since Pally loves horses. They make this horse into a winner with the help of a unlucky gambler that's also their horse's jockey. By doing this, they get the attention of some mafia bosses who want the horse. It's an original story definitely worth watching. I definitely recommend it! I will give it an 8 because the plot can be a little far-fetched at times.

DOA

[nraok · 1/10 · 3 March 2003]

No wonder this abomination went uncritiqued - no self-respecting critic could be held in a seat long enough to watch all 97 mintutes. The plot is completely implausible from start to finish. Sutherland's character suffers a heart attack in the opening scene which one would wish ended this debacle. This adds nothing tangible to the film. He and his wife are estranged but can't seem to keep their hands off each other though he's unable to perform and she's getting it on with some nerd. The loser jockey has a precocious daughter whose presence provides nothing but for a possible catalyst to reunite the lead with his dim-witted wife. The final scene (spoiler) is enough to make a viewer dizzy with the race horses galloping around an indoor corral ad nauseum selectively stomping the bad guys to death, yet somehow avoiding everyone else. The reviewers keen hope that the second "big one" might result in death was dashed. It's great that Sutherland and LaPaglia, who looked ridiculous with silly chin growth and bleached hair, have found apparent success with their TV series as they're both decent actors. Why Daniel Benzali, an excellent character actor, allowed himself to be included in this mess is inexplicable.

Very nearly a non-film save some good chemistry between Sutherland and LaPaglia

[bob the moo · 29 June 2003]

When he suffers heart attack on the job, resulting in a criminal escaping, Pally LaMarr retires from the police force. Turning to drink and contemplating suicide he is offered distraction by his step brother Ray LaMarr who tries to bring him in on a deal to buy a race horse. The horse is slow but Ray realises that minor surgery will free him up. They go through with the deal and bring Tony LaRoche on board as the jockey. However LaRoche owes money to the mob, so the mob take the horse. Stealing the horse back, Ray makes a deal to pay off the debt within a month or to give up the horse.

I watched this film because I do like Kiefer Sutherland and have grown keener on him now that I am watching him weekly on 24. I had reasonable hopes for this because it did start quite well and was quite stylish in the opening 10 minutes. However after this point the darkness opens up and it appears to be an uneasy mix of comedy and drama, neither of which really work. The plot is very plodding and very little actually happens in the film – certainly there is no real tension for the most part.

Events happen which are almost without consequence (for example one of the mob goes missing but nothing is really mentioned of it again in the film) and things just seem to meander until an ending that is far too neat for it's own good. In fact the final scene of the film is silly and abrupt – like the film didn't so much end as, well, stop. It is mildly interesting but this has nothing to do with the plot.

What made it watchable was the chemistry between Sutherland and LaPaglia, although neither gave a particularly good performance. They came across well together and made for an pairing that I'd like to see again in a much better film. Sutherland is a little hampered as he doesn't know how to play his character – at times he is comic, others he is dark, others he is free and light. There is no consistence and it seems to be whatever the tone of the scene requires – certainly his stress in one scene quickly vanishes for a more comic scene following. LaPaglia is a poor character here, his `furgett-abot it' acting is clichéd and tired and wastes his talents. Bluteau is really, really poor – his accent is way off somewhere and his character is as thin as paper. The support cast are OK but have little to do – but even with a dream support cast I doubt this film could have been lifted above the material.

The direction etc is pretty standard. After some style early on the film falls away and uses too much rock music etc and lots of `clever' shots that are just pointless – more time should have been spend on the story and delivering characters and drama. Overall I had reasonable hopes but these were dashed early on. It delivers so very little that it is almost a non-film. Ask me about it in and year and I'm sure I'll have no memory of it.

Action Comedy Falls Flat

[tuckrobin · 1/10 · 14 February 2015]

I must have seen a different movie than the one that others have reviewed. There were several plot lines going with an unbelievable final scene that unsuccessfully tried to bring the loose ends together. I was not impressed with the "buddy" relationship between Kiefer Sutherland and Anthony LaPaglia...it was not believable, charming, or funny. Radha Mitchell is easy on the eyes, and Kaye Panabaker was cute as the small daughter of Tony the jockey. I did look up Kaye Panabaker, and she is apparently a former actress who did not make it acting beyond her early efforts as a youngster, and I thought she had potential based upon her performance in this movie. The Dead Heat (2002) movie I saw was terrible, a waste of time, a ridiculous plot....and I want my ninety minutes back. There is another movie with the same title made in 1999. Perhaps that would be the movie to check out.

A directorial disaster.

[=G= · 5/10 · 7 March 2003]

"Dead Heat" wander schizophrenically between comedy and drama with no clear sense of purpose as it wends its way through a story which starts out okay and becomes increasingly lacking in purpose and vision and looking more and more like a cheap made for tv flick as it winds down. The film is not without its moments, but they're few and far between making "Dead Heat" little more than a wheezing and lukewarm small screen watch for the couch potato. (C-)

Keifer and Anthony are hillarouse together

[deavon · 10/10 · 8 December 2002]

Its such a good fun movie. Good story line with a seroius side to it but aslo very funny. Keifer and Anthony work so well off each other.

I would like to see them work together again. Very enjoyable film. And of course the horse is beautiful

Dead Heat "I liked it"

[poetryforyou05 · 10/10 · 5 September 2005]

I would have to say I liked this movie, No I am not a couch potato! But I am a huge fan of Keifer Sutherland!! I happen to enjoy him in "different" roles!! He is one of a chosen few that can play "any" role!!! Seeing him in 24, may confuse people do the point that he plays it so well, and no one could play it better!! Even in small roles such as "stand by me" or "taking lives" a small role but a huge impact!! He is one of those actors that a movie can be dull but though he is in it, it is a movie worth watching!! I agree that Dead Heat does not have "blockbuster" written all over it but I understood the story line, A man that had to give up his career due to a heart condition, then he gets a opportunity to live a life-long dream with of course some turbulence on the way, But in the end he got the girl actually 2 and lived happily ever after!!

good enjoyable film

[carrie100 · 8/10 · 23 July 2009]

I thought this film was fun to watch and I was surprised that it was quite funny as well as having a serious side to the story. I am a huge Kiefer Sutherland fan and would happily listen and watch him read the telephone directory so perhaps not the most objective reviewer of his films. However, I thought he had good comic timing and would love to see him do some more comedy/drama stuff. It was nice to have a story with a feel-good factor to it and with a happy ending - its a feel good film. I am not bothered if there are technical mistakes with the horse/racing sections - I really don't think they matter. Its the story itself that is the important thing about this film - the relationship between the two brothers, between Kiefer's character and his estranged wife and his coming to terms with the end of his career as a police officer. I would recommend this film to anyone who wants to watch a good drama with good actors. Good job, Kiefer!!