The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) - Review of the Blu-ray Edition

      The Long Kiss Goodnight, 1996.

      Directed by Renny Harlin.

      Featuring Geena Davis, Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Malahide, Craig Bierko, Brian Cox, and David Morse.

      SYNOPSIS:

      This Blu-ray is a re-release of the one that Warner Bros. put out in 2011. Unfortunately, it lacks any additional features, though earlier this year, Arrow released a 4K Ultra HD version that includes a 4K remaster of the film along with a substantial set of bonus content. Nonetheless, if you're a fan of this 1996 cult classic written by Shane Black and directed by Renny Harlin, it's still worth adding to your collection.

      Shane Black was clearly in his element while writing the screenplay for The Long Kiss Goodnight, directed by Renny Harlin. Building on the success that began with his sharp and engaging script for Lethal Weapon in 1987, this movie gave him the chance to step into a producer role before eventually making his directorial debut in 2005 with the acclaimed Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

      The film stars Geena Davis as Samantha Caine, who appears to be enjoying a perfect small-town life in Pennsylvania with her boyfriend, Hal (Tom Amandes), and her daughter, Caitlin (Yvonne Zima). However, eight years prior, she was discovered as an amnesiac on a New Jersey beach, pregnant with Caitlin.

      Over the years, she has employed several private investigators to uncover details about her past. All have failed, and the latest investigator, Mitch Hennessey (Samuel L. Jackson), is experiencing tough times and is eager to gather information so that she will continue to pay him.

      A series of coincidences propel the plot forward: Samantha sustains a concussion in a car accident, revealing unexpected knife skills, and her TV appearance at a Christmas parade attracts the attention of an escaped convict. After Samantha neutralizes the assailant, she and Mitch embark on a quest to uncover her history, hoping to protect Hal and Caitlin from any threats. This journey places them in the sights of government agents, and Samantha soon uncovers her real name, Charly Baltimore, and her concealed past.

      The narrative builds toward a climax centered around a domestic terrorism plot, culminating in a satisfying, albeit predictable, resolution. For Renny Harlin, The Long Kiss Goodnight helped to mend the wounds of the box office disappointment of his 1995 pirate film Cutthroat Island, released the year before. For Shane Black, it was yet another accomplishment in his career.

      This is my first experience with this film on home video, and I believe this Blu-ray is a reissue of the 2011 release. As such, it unfortunately lacks bonus features. However, if you're a fan, it’s recommended to seek out the 4K Ultra HD edition from Arrow released earlier this year, which is filled with extra content as well as a film remaster.

      For now, this disc provides a pleasant nostalgia trip back to the 1990s, a time when life seemed more straightforward, even for an amnesiac ex-government assassin.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★