150 Movies You Should Die Before You See - Miller Steve [33]
WRITERS Theresa Rebeck, John Brancato, and Michael Ferris (story), John Brancato, Michael Ferris, and John Rogers (script), Bob Kane (original Catwoman character)
DIRECTOR Pitof
STARS Halle Berry (Patience Phillips/Catwoman), Sharon Stone (Laurel Hedare), and Benjamin Bratt (Tom Lone)
Through a twist of fate, a shy woman (Berry) gains personality-bending superpowers and becomes Catwoman.
Why It Sucks
The biggest mystery about this film is why Halle Berry agreed to star in it after winning an Oscar and appearing in the superior superhero film The X-Men. Even more surprising is that Warner Bros. would treat one of its own properties so badly in what's been called “the worst superhero film ever made.”
Thumbs Down Rating:
The Crappies
The Worst Actress Award goes to … Halle Berry for giving a performance that barely manages to be sexy. And it's Halle Berry, for God's sake!
And the Worst Director Award goes to … Pitof for displaying disregard for production continuity so sloppy that costumes change in the middle of fights, hairstyles change during the trip from a restaurant to a bedroom, and helmets appear and disappear.
They Really Said It!
Catwoman: You saved my life, Midnight. But somebody killed me and I've got to find out who and why.
Betcha Didn't Know
After Michelle Pfeiffer declined to repeat her role from Batman Returns, Ashley Judd was the first choice to play Catwoman. After she also declined, Halle Berry was cast.
The film cost around $100 million to make, but only earned some $71 million at box offices worldwide (and just $40 million in the United States).
Trivia Quiz
For what film did Halle Berry win an Academy Award?
A: Die Another Day (2002)
B: Gothika (2003)
C: Monster's Ball (2001)
D: Swordfish (2001)
Answer: C. In Monster's Ball Berry portrayed Leticia Musgrove, wife of an executed criminal.
CITY HEAT
The Malpaso Company/Deliverance Productions, 1984
PRODUCER Fritz Manes
WRITERS Sam O. Brown and Joseph Stinson
DIRECTOR Richard Benjamin
STARS Burt Reynolds (Mike Murphy), Clint Eastwood (Lt. Speer), Jane Alexander (Addy), Richard Roundtree (Dehl Swift), Madeline Kahn (Caroline Howley), Rip Torn (Primo Pitt), and Irene Cara (Ginny Lee)
When his partner is murdered, P.I. Mike Murphy (Reynolds) is left trying to figure out who killed him and what scam he was running against Kansas City's biggest gangsters. To do so, he must work with his former best friend and now bitterest enemy (Eastwood).
Why It Sucks
How can a detective movie set in the 1930s and featuring excellent performers like Burt Reynolds and Clint Eastwood fail? Well, because someone apparently didn't recognize that no matter how big the stars, a film still needs, oh, I don't know, a good script. Instead, we have a convoluted story, flashes of absurdist humor that are out of place, and every actor but Burt Reynolds is underused.
Thumbs Down Rating:
The Crappies
The Special Award for Worst Preview goes to … The editors who created a preview that consists of random fragments of the film's jokes and punchlines in a random order.
And the Worst Acting Award goes to … Clint Eastwood for giving one of the worst performances of his career, a surprising fact since he had a large degree of control over the film and how it turned out.
They Really Said It!
Speer: And just what were you going to do after the bomb went off?
Betcha Didn't Know
The writer credited as Sam O. Brown is actually Blake Edwards, creator of the Pink Panther film series. Edwards reportedly left the project following creative differences with Eastwood.
This was one of two films produced and partially funded by Burt Reynolds's production company, Deliverance Productions.
(The other was the 1981 film Sharkey's Machine.)
Trivia Quiz
Which actor turned down the role of Han Solo in Star Wars?
A: Clint Eastwood
B: Burt Reynolds
C: Richard Roundtree
D: Rip Torn
Answer: B. Burt Reynolds also turned down the role that won Jack Nicholson an Oscar in Terms of Endearment,