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Pacific HeightsRating:
Release Date: 28 December, 1999 Retail Price: $9.98 OUR Price: $9.98 You SAVE: $0.00! Cast: Complete Cast (9 total) |
Pacific Heights Reviews
Pacific Heights or California Low?
There is some first-rate acting in Pacific Heights by Melanie Griffith, Mathew Modine, Mako, Nobu McCarthy, Michael Keaton and every other role, however large or small in the film. I'd rate Pacific Heights as a full five-stars were it not for the less than inspired writing. (I often suspect some writers believe their audience is primarily composed of idiots.)
A young, unmarried straight couple, played by Griffith and Modine, buy a fixer up house on a corner lot in Pacific Heights. The couple spends way more for the house than they can possibly afford unless they subdivide the home into three separate apartments, two of which will be rented out. (Bankers generally look down, way down, on this type of financial risk.)
The first floor apartment at the rear of the house is quickly rented to Mako and his wife, sympathetically played by Nobu McCarthy. A black detective wants to rent the apartment at the front of the house also on the first floor, but is told by Ms. Griffith that he'll have to fill out an application and a credit check will have to be run. (Isn't this general practice regardless of one's race, sex or obviously "apparent" assets, such as car, clothes, shoes, hair style, etc? But Pacific Heights tries to suggest the need for a background and credit check may relate to the detective's skin color. But Ms. Griffith, who does the interview, isn't even told the guy's a cop! Nor is he asked, "What do you do for a living?"
The biggest problem in Pacific Heights involves the manner in which Michael Keaton (who drives a black Porsche 911 in the movie) cons and forces his way into the apartment that otherwise would have gone to the black detective. Anywhere but California, and, I suspect, in California, too, Keaton's move into the first floor apartment isn't just unauthorized, it's a home invasion by a squatter! Keaton never fills out an application; he never pays the deposit; he never pays his rent; after he invades the home he gets into a fight with Modine---and gets a restraining order that keeps Modine out of his own house! The writing here is way too far-fetched.
As stated above, the acting is first-rate. So is the direction. And so are the sets and costumes. And San Francisco is such a beautiful place to visit or film a movie. The only problem with Pacific Heights is that the writing is far too weak.
Andy McKane
Missoula, Montana
Masterpiece
Drake Goodman (Matthew Modine) and Patty Palmer (Melanie Griffith) are a young couple in love
and together they take the plunge and buy a house beyond their means in the upscale Pacific
Heights. Overextended but in love, they rent out 2 apartments for income to help with their
mortgage. One is rented out to a wealthy young businessman (Michael Keaton) who drives a
Porsche and pays 5 months in advance rent in cash. After their other tenant moves out, and
Michael Keaton refuses to pay rent, the strain on the couples finances threaten foreclosure.
As Michael Keaton's true nature emerges, and he changes the locks, does loud construction
work into the late hours, and sets up Matthew Modine to be arrested, Melanie Griffith
starts to investigate Michael Keaton's real past. She learns that he's born into wealth, has a
checkered past, and swindles wealthy people as a career con artist. She gets Michael Keaton
arrested and his wealthy girlfriend bails him out. In the end, Michael Keaton has a fatal
confrontation with Matthew Modine in their house. Supporting cast includes Beverly D'Angelo
as Michael Keaton's former lover and partner.
A masterful treatment of the story. Great film for any age.
Little coarse language and few scenes of violence.
A perfect suspense film. Michael Keaton is terrific as the bad guy, scheming his way
like a snake. Melanie Griffith is strong minded, and Matthew Modine plays naive but well
meaning.
Everything's perfect in this film, not a dull moment. Little to say about this movie except,
"watch it!"
A great addition to your film collection of modern suspense masterpieces.
More Customer Reviews (15 total)
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