TMT: The Long Kiss Goodnight
This is the next entry in a Theatre… a Movie… and a Time, a series that was begun here. As I’ve mention before in this string of memory downloads, along with my proclivity to snag just about anything, it seems my primary penchant over time is sitting alone in some darkened theatre watching a film hardly anyone else went to see, but enjoying the movie still. This is another that meets the criteria:
Mitch: “So, you cold?”
Charlie: “Yeah. Freezing.”
Mitch: “Turn on the heat. It doesn’t work, but it makes a very annoying noise… distracts from the cold.”
Theatre
Movie
Time
October 13, 1996: before we begin, we have to define a term:
- life-changing
- adj
- 1. altering a person’s life or circumstances in a substantial way
- 2. completely transforming
Coming up on a year’s anniversary of a life-changing event is enough to give anyone pause. I mean, having survived something that completely turned your world upside down is one hell of an accomplishment. So it was on this weekend. You see, I’m speaking about my eldest’s 1st birthday that was observed fifteen years ago on this particular October weekend.
At one time, I thought getting married would be the demarcation line in my life. Nope… not hardly. While finding and wedding my bride (coming up on 23 years next February) was no doubt momentous and prized beyond measure, what really meets the above definition is when your firstborn arrives.
Since my son’s birthday landed mid-week, we celebrated it with a party the Saturday after, at a park in Marina Del Rey. And as every mother and father know only too well, each year that passes once you’ve cross that line, only ticks by faster. It makes one stop and think, alright. The next day, my wife kindly let this bedraggled sophomore parent out for his favorite pastime.
Since director Renny Harlin had again cast his then wife, Geena Davis, in his new movie, The Long Kiss Goodnight — one penned by a favorite screenwriter of just about every action flick-lovin’ guy I know (Shane Black) — there was no question where my spouse could find me. The Cineplex Marina Marketplace 6 was the other small theater complex in ol’ MDR.
Surprisingly, not many patrons caught the film back then. The concept of a kick-ass female assassin, and one with a mouth that could kill you just as well as her hands and sniper’s rifle, is almost trite these days (but don’t let that stop you from seeing the current Mission:IMPOSSIBLE film). However, back then no one expected or understood this, except the few movie-goers who took this feature in on its initial release.
I can tell you the exact sequence in the film where my love for it was cemented, too.
It’s the mid-point Atlantic City, N.J. intro, scored with the stellar Santana cover of The Zombies début single, She’s Not There. Ccredit co-star Craig Bierko for coming up with that song selection. Of the films he’s made, this is the director’s favorite. Mine, too. And maybe… just maybe, for Christmas this year, I’ll introduce my 16-year-old to this ;-).
The entire TMT series can be found here. If you’re interested how it’s put together, click here.
It Rains... You Get Wet 
18 Responses to “TMT: The Long Kiss Goodnight”
Samuel and Geena had the chem set working, I love this movie. All the zingers and action, it is in my top 5 best popcorn movies. That’s entertainment!
What I’m saying is, back when we first met, you were all like “Oh phooey, I burned the darn muffins.” Now, you go into a bar, ten minutes later, sailors come runnin’ out. What up with that?
and the scene were he was kicked outa the car and just lays there and lights a cig.
Did I say how much I love this movie, it is Fun, thanks for the review.
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Don’t they? Every so often, I see Geena Davis around town. One day, when I have my courage up, I hope to tell her how much we love her in this ;-). This one has sooooo many quotable lines in it, too. Love that SLJ scene with him laying on the street, lighting a cig. Classic.
Thanks, Herb.
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I remember The Long Kiss Goodnight! I loved it. As a matter of fact I own it on dvd.
Thank you for this post and for the linklove! I appreciate it!
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My pleasure, man. Your review of MI:GP nailed what I loved about it.
It’s great, too, to know TLKG has a growing fan base. In many ways, it was ahead of its time. Many thanks.
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Long Kiss Goodnight is one I really need to watch again, I love Shane Black, but this one didn’t click with me the first time I saw it (I was working at a theatre at the time, and we screened it really late at night, like 1AM). I owe it another chance 15 years later (sheesh, thanks for making me feel old).
I am expecting my first child a few months from now, so I hope I will be able to catch movies theatrically still (I already told my wife that I am doing whatever’s possible to see Django Unleashed opening weekend)
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Great to hear from you, Kevin. Even more, great to hear the news of you and your wife’s first child on the way! This TMT should register some now, and maybe even more down the line, my friend.
Oh, yes. Please give ‘The Long Kiss Goodnight’ another view. I just picked up the Blu-ray Disc of it earlier this year. I’ve been saving it for another Christmas showing ;-). Many thanks, and congrats again.
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Great post about a very underrated movie, which happens to feature prominently in my “movies I can happily watch over and over again” list. 🙂
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Thanks, Elizabeth. Yes, this one make that “movies I can happily watch over and over again” list, alright. I’m hoping someday someone will give it a ‘Die Hard’ worthy set of extras in a disc release.
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Great story from behind the scenes of your life!
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Thanks so much, Joel. Love talking about this one, and the recent #MTOS Christmas session last Sunday on Twitter showed there are a number of fans for this underrated film.
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I nominated you with The Versatile Blogger Award. Kindly click this link http://theilongga.wordpress.com/2011/12/23/versatile-blogger-award/ to check for instructions 🙂 Congrats!
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I’m honored, Regine. Thanks ever so much for the consideration :-).
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As you know, I love your TMT series!! I haven’t seen that one yet but I really should as you and Joel love this. I miss Geena Davis, she’s no doubt believable as a kick-ass heroine, I wonder if she’ll ever return to acting?
Merry Christmas Michael!
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You’re very kind, Ruth. Yes, Geena Davis is someone I really miss in TV and movies.
If you are a fan of ‘Die Hard’, and of alternative Christmas action flicks, this one shouldn’t be missed. They are a good match. While each will give you plenty of action and mayhem amidst the holiday, there is a distinct male/female dichotomy between the two. Let me know what you think we you give it a screening. Thanks, Ruth.
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Hope you have along happy marriage ahead Mike 🙂 23 years and counting. My parents were married for 35 years and I am happy that only God could separate them.
Joel really like this movie. I have been trying to find it but it wasn’t easy. I like Geena, she doesn’t have that masculine face but really good in kicking ass (I saw her kicking ass in that pirate movie)
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Very kind of you, Novroz. Many thanks.
Yep, that was the one where then husband first cast Geena as an action heroine, with TLKG (which I enjoyed more) as the follow-up.
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[…] their initial release; many later became well-regarded and/or cult movies (Blade Runner, Sorcerer, The Long Kiss Goodnight, […]
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[…] filmography. Although, I’ve turned the corner on Cutthroat Island and I don’t count The Long Kiss Goodnight because it’s an underrated Christmas-action classic (thanks to writer-director Shane […]
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