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Best Seller

Best Seller

Action · Crime · Drama · 1987

Hit man Cleve approaches writer/cop Dennis about a story for his next book: How Cleve made a living, working for one of the most powerful politicians in the country. To get the story right, they travel around the country to gather statements and evidence, while strong forces use any means they can to keep the story untold.

Movie details

Best Seller

“Writing A Book Is Easy. Writing A Best Seller Is Murder.”

1987 Action · Crime · Drama 1h 35m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.0 / 10

Community rating

Hit man Cleve approaches writer/cop Dennis about a story for his next book: How Cleve made a living, working for one of the most powerful politicians in the country. To get the story right, they travel around the country to gather statements and evidence, while strong forces use any means they can to keep the story untold.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Best Seller?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

The Crew

The Crew

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Hard to Kill

Hard to Kill

Action · 1990

Mason Storm, a 'go it alone' cop, is gunned down at home. The intruders kill his wife, and think they've killed both Mason and his son too. Mason is secretly taken to a hospital where he spends several years in a coma. His son meanwhile is growing up thinking his father is dead. When Mason wakes up, everyone is in danger - himself, his son, his best friend, his nurse - but most of all those who arranged for his death

The Rookie

The Rookie

Action · 1990

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The Corruptor

The Corruptor

Action · 1999

Danny is a young cop partnered with Nick, a seasoned but ethically tainted veteran. As the two try to stop a gang war in Chinatown, Danny relies on Nick but grows increasingly uncomfortable with the way Nick gets things done.

Out for Justice

Out for Justice

Action · 1991

Gino Felino is an NYPD detective from Brooklyn who knows everyone and everything in his neighborhood. Killing his partner was someone's big mistake... because he's now out for justice.

Death Wish

Death Wish

Action · 2018

A mild-mannered father is transformed into a killing machine after his family is torn apart by a violent act.

Cut Throat City

Cut Throat City

Action · 2020

Four boyhood friends return to New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward after Hurricane Katrina, to find their home decimated and prospects for work swept away. Turning to a local gangster for employment, the crew is hired to pull off a daring casino heist, right in the heart of the city.

The Born Losers

The Born Losers

Action · 1967

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Payback

Payback

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With friends like these, who needs enemies? That's the question bad guy Porter is left asking after his wife and partner steal his heist money and leave him for dead -- or so they think. Five months and an endless reservoir of bitterness later, Porter's partners and the crooked cops on his tail learn how bad payback can be.

Kill the Irishman

Kill the Irishman

Action · 2011

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Flynn

Written by

Larry Cohen

James Woods

James Woods

Cleve

Brian Dennehy

Brian Dennehy

Dennis Meechum

Victoria Tennant

Victoria Tennant

Roberta Gillian

Allison Balson

Allison Balson

Holly Meechum

Paul Shenar

Paul Shenar

David Madlock

George Coe

George Coe

Graham

Anne Pitoniak

Anne Pitoniak

Mrs. Foster

Court is in session

Put Best Seller on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.