The United States Of Leland Review

by Mark R Leeper (leeper AT mtgbcs DOT mt DOT lucent DOT com)
October 12th, 1998
JERRY AND TOM (United States)
    A review by Mark R. Leeper in bullet-list form
    from the Toronto Internation Film Festival

    CAPSULE: Two used car salesmen are also contract killers for the organized crime syndicate. We see them over the course of years as the Mentor loses his edge and the younger learns the skills of the older man but does not inherit his scruples. Humor and drama intermingle. Joe Montegna leads a cast of familiar actors. Rating: 7 (0 to 10), 2 (-4 to +4)

    - Directed by Saul Rubinek. Screenplay by Rick Cleveland based on his own one-act play.
    - Older killer Tom (Joe Mantegna) teaches Jerry (Sam Rockwell) the nuts and bolts of the killing profession. Including how to make things like a chainsaw work. Jerry is a dim bulb.
    - Paternal Tom eventually becomes bothered by the ruthlessness of his partner Jerry.
    - Many familiar actors in small roles. Peter Riegert, Ted Danson, William Macy, Saul Rubinek (who also directed), Charles Durning, Maury Chaykin.
    - Initially a comedy, but the serious elements take over. They could not remain flippant about murder for long.
    - Amazing scene transitions that look like one continuous cut; yet there are no special effects in the film. All transitions done by building a recreation of the previous set next to the following set.
    - Humorous allusions to real events. (E.g. Kennedys, Jimmy Hoffa).

Mark R. Leeper
[email protected]
Copyright 1998 Mark R. Leeper

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