The Hot Spot

I admit The Hot Spot (1990) popped up on my radar solely due to the fact Jennifer Connelly appears topless in one scene (How many people went to see the 2001 film Swordfish based solely on Halle Berry appearing topless?). I really didn't have much confidence in the film itself, as it stars Don Johnson, and while he may have been the flavor of the month in the 80's with his Miami Vice show, he really drove me away with his subsequent, and short lived, singing career (anyone remember the song Heartbeat? It was picked as one of the 50 worst songs ever by VH1). Also, the film was directed by 60's leftover Dennis Hopper, whom I like as an actor, but was unsure of his directing talents...let's look at his directing endeavors (the one's I've seen, at least)...there's the quintessential 60's counterculture film Easy Rider, the 1988 film Colors, which focused on the ever rising gangster/criminal mentality prevalent in LA at the time (still is, as far as I know) which was, and is, really good, and then there's the 1994 film Chasers...that last one is worth about two bad films it was so awful...so two great films, and one really bad film...alright, I'll swing with it...show me what you got...Along with Don `Sonny Crockett' Johnson, the film also stars Jennifer Connelly (I know, I already mentioned her, but she's so nice, I had to do it twice), and Virginia Madsen, an actress known for her ability to adapt to just about any role she takes. Also appearing is Charles Martin Smith, a talented and prolific character actor most people would probably recognize as the nebbish/ nerdy character Terry `The Toad' Fields from George Lucas' American Graffiti (1973), and another popular character actor William Sadler, who has also appeared in films like The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Demon Knight (1995), and The Green Mile (1999), to name a few.The film (`noir for the 90's', the trailer says) begins with a man, who name we learn later as Harry Madox (Johnson) drifting into a small Texas town much like a predator stalking a young, innocent, and unwary prey. He insinuates himself into a position of the local used car dealership, owned by George Harshaw, an older man, with a sexy young wife, Dolly (Madsen), and a heart condition (that seems like a bad combination). Also working at the lot are fellow salesman Lon (Smith), and Gloria Harper (Connelly), as a bookkeeper. It seems Harry's got more on his mind than selling used cars, as he begins formulating plans to rob the local bank, which would be no great task as the security is lax to the point of being a non-existent, virtually begging Harry to come and take its' goodies. To complicate matters, he engages in an affair with Dolly (well, more like she chooses to have relations with him, as I didn't feel Harry had much choice in the matter, as Dolly `always gets what she wants'). And on top of that, he quickly develops an interest in sweet, young, and seemingly innocent Gloria, to which she seems responsive to Harry's attentions. And don't forget the town sleaze ball Frank Sutton (Sadler), who seems to be into everyone's business (especially with his camera with the monster telephoto lens), choosing blackmail as his trade of choice. The robbery goes off as planned with little problems, but even the best laid plans can suffer complications, and that's the case here as Harry, who the police see as the number one suspect, finds that Dolly has provided him an alibi, but for a price (it ain't money, Bubba). Things really get messy as the plot thickens, as others become involved.I'd have to say Madsen was probably the best element in this entire movie. She's very easy on the eyes, and creates a very sexy, manipulative, vindictive, self-centered character people love to hate. When we first meet her, she seems like your classic gold-digging character interested in a dalliance (or two, or three) due to her much older husband's inability to perform certain martial responsibilities, but we learn she has plans and ambitions, much like Harry, for more than what she currently has...Madsen also appears to have the most nekkid time, flashing the audience a great number of times, completely within character, of course. Johnson did well, better than I would have thought, as the predator who soon finds himself prey, and realizing it much too late to effectively defend himself. I did feel his character, who I felt was supposed to be savvy and streetwise, fell into some easily avoidable and obvious traps, traps his character should have seen and been able to side-step, but whatever...oh yeah, for all you ladies out there, never fear, as Donnie has a few non-clothed scenes (mostly tushie shots), coming in a distant second in on screen nekkid time, far behind Madsen. Connelly's role as the sweet, young, and innocent Gloria was the weakest, presented as juxtaposition to Madsen's polar opposite characterization of Dolly. Connelly comes in third place in the nekkid on-screen challenge, but sometime a little is a lot...I thought Hopper did a great job with his direction providing the proper atmosphere and setting, and all the plot twists kept me in the dark about who was pulling who's strings. My only real problem with the film was it was just too damn long, with a running time of 2 hours and 10 minutes. I think Hopper could have lopped 20 or 30 minutes off and still had a great film, but I think he deliberately kept the pacing as slow as it was to really allow for all of the elements to come together and also opportunity for the audience to take it all in...MGM provides a really nice, clean looking widescreen transfer here, and included is the original theatrical trailer. All in all, a good nod to noir films of the past, updated for the present.Cookieman108

Hopefully not anyones best performance

Movie was good enough to watch again

Ordered this since I am on a Don Johnson kick again. Been watching and searching up his movies lately. This one I had never seen and it was back from 1990 the year I graduated. Love Don Johnson especially the 80's and 90's. This movie was good but had more sex scenes/violence that I wasn't aware of previously. I loved it and enjoyed seeing it. For me it was a great purchase for my collection. The actors and actresses were great and well known even still today. The acting was great and very believable. Don, of course was fantastic once again. And so good looking. His acting is great. I've seen many of his shows and movies and this was different. Liked the story line well enough. Loved the scenery of the town and the waterfall. Felt like I was right there with them. The movie held my attention the entire time because I didn't want to miss anything. Wasn't a fan of the ending though. I felt it should've ended differently. Wanted him to end up with the other girl and it didn't end like that. Oh well. Overall, it was a great purchase and I am satisfied. The DVD had some extras as well. Wish Don Johnson would've given an interview as well on it. But I am happy with the purchase and the movie itself.

Director Dennis HopperWritten by Charles Williams (Novel)Screenplay by Nora Tyson & Charles WilliamsStarring: Don Johnson Virginia Madson Jennifer Connelly Charles Martin Smith Bill Sadler Jerry Hardin Barry CorbinThis is a 1990 project by Hopper that is well named "The Hot Spot". Almost everything about this movie is hot. The weather is hot. The sand dunes are hot. The cash is hot. The strip joint is hot. The fires are hot, and the charactors are driven by an underscored sensuality that heats up the screen. Harry (Johnson) drifts into town and pushes his way into a used car lot and hires himself as a salesmen. Harry is a mysterious man. He quickly notices the beauty bookkepper in the adjacent office (Connelly). A note about Connelly (Gloria) because she makes the movie. She is young, perfectly dressed, discovering her sexuality, gentle and she captures scene after scene. But Harry is being tempted by another woman which would be Dolly. Dolly is a different woman: A more experienced, more aggressive, adulterous, overpowering presence in the film.But in part, this is a movie about betrayal. Harry commits horrific arson while he also commits larceny. Bill the loafing photographer is a blackmailer. Dolly cheats like a three dollar bill.One of the most enjoyable scenes was the swimming hole that seemed to drip from every direction. It is an excellent location and finally we get to cool down. Gloria's atmospheric scenes with the disceased friend Irene are swept in the past by good directing by Hopper.The film moves slowly as a little town might. All in all a good piece of work. GJ

Add indicates included slipcover but it was not included.

I had read the novel before seeing this movie in the theater when it was first released. I was intrigued that Dennis Hopper was going to direct it, but even more so that Charles Williams was going to adapt his novel to a screenplay. This movie is very faithful to the novel and that doesn't happen very often when it's transferred to film. The casting was spot on for every character and the acting is strong throughout. I was very surprised that it wasn't as big a hit at the box office, but now people are starting to give it the notice it deserves. I wish they would have asked Hopper to do a commentary track with this release before he passed. He deserves more credit for his direction on this movie than he received.

This DVD wouldn't play past 1 hour in any of the 5 players I own. I suspect it has something to do with the copy protection.The movie is solid and recommended though.

Recommended over the Kino Lorber's release. This one has superior extras plus a much nicer cover. Recommended for neo-noir fans. And naturally Dennis Hopper fans.

Ok

Muy buena película para quienes disfrutamos de los 80s.

Der Inhalt von „The Hot Spot – Spiel mit dem Feuer“ aus dem Jahr 1990 ist bei Amazon unter „Rezensionen“ bereits gut beschrieben. Regisseur Dennis Hopper liefert hier einen erotischen Film Noir ab, in dem Don Johnson als Herumtreiber „Harry Madox“ in einer Kleinstadt landet, einen Banküberfall begeht und sich auf eine gefährliche und verhängnisvolle Affäre mit der Femme Fatale „Dolly Harshaw“, verkörpert von Virginia Madsen, einlässt, die ihm fast zum Verhängnis wird.Auch in den weiteren Hauptrollen ist „The Hot Spot“ gut besetzt mit Jennifer Connelly als 19-jährige „unschuldige Schönheit“, die von dem von William Sadler gespielten schmierigen „Frank Sutton“ erpresst wird und mit Charles Martin Smith („The Untouchables – Die Unbestechlichen“) als Autoverkäufer.„The Hot Spot“ zeigt aber auch irgendwie eine gepflegte „Lässigkeit“ bzw. Coolness. Es gibt kaum Action und doch kommt keine Langeweile auf trotz der langen Laufzeit des Films von 130 Minuten auf der im Februar 2020 erschienenen Amaray Blu-ray von NSM Records. Dies liegt vor allem auch an dem coolen Soundtrack mit Blues- und Jazz-Elementen.Der Film ist, so finde ich, gut gealtert.Die Bildqualität des 30 Jahre alten Films im 16:9 - Format 1.85:1 auf der Amaray-Blu-ray ist gut, hat für mich aber jetzt nicht ganz HD-Niveau. Das Bild ist teilweise leicht körnig und daher nicht immer so scharf wie bei neueren Filmen auf Blu-ray. Der Ton ist aber sehr gut.Es ist daher fraglich, ob die Blu-ray jetzt tatsächlich die bessere Wahl gegenüber der ebenfalls erschienenen DVD von NSM Records ist. Als Extras sind leider nur der englische und deutsche Trailer zum Film auf der Blu-ray enthalten.Nach meiner Bewertung 4 Sterne für „The Hot Spot“.

A brilliant Dennis hopper film worth the wait for this 2k restoration well done radiance a beautiful restoration and an excellent booklet