anyone with half a brain could figure out Jeff Daniels is the killer, otherwise why would they have this big name actor in a pointless comic relief role if they weren't gonna make him the killer? And to make things worse, they ended the movie with a tacked on cliche Hollywood shoot-out.
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now go home and get your fuckin shine box!
Good point.
I'm happiest...in the saddle.
...big name actor? Are you sure you're thinking of Jeff Daniels, who, prior to 2002 (when Blood Work was made), had as his biggest role a buffoon in Dumb and Dumber? Look at his page--previous to Blood Work, nearly everything he did was comedy--usually bad, over-the-top comedy, to boot. He was the perfect fit for the role here, because no one would have expected him to be anything else, especially when the character is presented as "just" a lazy buffoon.
shareNo, I had the thought during the movie, why did they cast Jeff Daniels in this seemingly trivial role? Is he gonna turn out to be the killer?
So the original point is valid.
I still disagree. Look at his acting history--he wasn't a big-name actor at the time, at least as anything other than comic relief. At the time this first aired, it actually made sense, and few would have expected him to be the killer. He's not even set up to be; no inexplicable lingering camera shots on him, no real double-entendre of him saying something seemingly innocent that the audience can pick up on. Everything about the role was designed to work based on the roles he was previously known for. Looking back, now, eight years later, sure he can stick out. But not then.
shareI guess I can’t speak to eight years ago; then it was just “luck” that by now he sticks out.
I had the same reaction to another movie of a few years ago -- don’t remember which; I think it may have been set around New Orleans. A bunch of staffers in a police bureau were all played by “nobodies” -- except one trivial character was played by a prominent actor (already well-established career-wise), and he turned out to be the mystery criminal/killer!
Sadly that happens a lot. On the other hand, you have works like this, where they used an actor who up until the movie was released was known for one thing, and used him in the movie as something different for the surprise.
Though I think the best was Se7en, where the actor who played the killer wasn't even in the opening credits. Kept the suspense up, I think.
Jeff Daniels was a well-established actor who had done plenty of dramatic roles before Blood Work was released. Have you seen any other movies of his besides this and Dumb and Dumber?
I'm happiest...in the saddle.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001099/
Perhaps you're talking about Pleasantville? Or perhaps My Favorite Martian? Maybe 101 Dalmations?
Sarcasm aside, he had had a few "straight" roles before this, sure, such as Fly Away Home, but none were on the same level of drama, nor were any ones that he was particularly known for.
No, I'm actually talking about Terms of Endearment, Something Wild, The House on Carroll Street, and Speed.
I'm happiest...in the saddle.
And the greatest of them all, THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO.
Jeff Daniels was NOT a nobody at the time BLOOD WORK was released.
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http://mulhollandcinelog.wordpress.com/
Films that I best knew him from prior to "Blood Work" - "Gettysburg," "Speed", "Fly Away Home", "Pleasantville", "Something Wild", "Terms of Endearment" - are not over the top comedies, so, yes, like the original poster said, red flags were definitely raised for me when he appeared in had a rather nothing role.
Even though the film's ending is different to the book's.
I figured he was the killer, but I didn't want him to be. I was hoping the movie played it straight, and didn't do a stupid twist. Hollywood writers need to understand you can have a compelling story without throwing in a dopey twist. In the year 2010, it would be more unpredictable if we saw a movie like this without one.
sharei remember when this came out, the reviews were kind of average, and some viewed it as kind of another instalment of the dirty harry series. i don't remember how shocked i got about the revelation of the killer, but as i watched it now and knew, his voice is obvious on the phone at one part of the movie. anyway i think it is really captivating, but the end scene on the boat when the killer has been revealed and the movie is kind of told, i was sort of like "right, we know how this always goes, let's get it over with then" and i didn't focus on it. notice morticia is VERY high in the credits even though other female lead clearly has the bigger part.
morning and night you stayed in the house,
like a furniture i don't wanna throw out,
through sunshine to moonlight,
morning to night,
i wont complain,
about a thing since you remain,
if its cloudy and pale weather this december day,
with you around, i keep satisfied,
since from early in the mornin you stayed to late at night.