Linbeymusol
Wonderful character development!
GamerTab
That was an excellent one.
UnowPriceless
hyped garbage
sol-
Rival aluminum-siding salesmen find themselves an increasingly hostile tit-for-tat feud spurred on by an automobile accident this Barry Levinson movie. One of two films that Levinson made in 1987, 'Tin Men' never quite found the same audience as 'Good Morning, Vietnam', which is a shame as it is arguably better, even if its lack of appeal to some is understandable. Both protagonists are, after all, very lowdown and despicable characters and while both have their occasion quirks, this is one of those films in which there is not a single likable character in sight. This is a deliberate move by Levinson though as the pair's feud is constantly contrasted against their shady business practices and salesmanship techniques, such as dropping a $5 note and insisting that it is not yours to convince a potential client of your honesty. The feud also coincides with the whole aluminum-siding industry being investigated for unfair selling practices and there is a sense that the protagonists are driven to their extremes as a result of the way they have learnt to work; "deceit is an occupational hazard" as one claims. Knowing this does not make Barbara Hershey's subplot any more credible, nor does it render either lead especially sympathetic, but it does provide some sense of perspective as the idea here is to observe how the characters operate, not to get to like them for who they are. Add in some genuinely funny moments (Dreyfuss realising that DeVito actually doesn't love his wife) and 'Tin Men' is a flawed film that still works surprisingly well. The conclusion is pitch perfect too.
wes-connors
This oddly titled "Tin Men" has nothing to do with "The Wizard of Oz" (1939). It's about two men who sell aluminum siding, which was an apparently popular home improvement in 1963. The story takes place in Baltimore, Maryland – a favored setting for director Barry Levinson. Herein, after buying a brand new Cadillac, Richard Dreyfuss (as Bill "BB" Babowsky) backs his car into Danny DeVito (as Ernest Tilley). The serious fender bender results in a near-violent confrontation. To make matters worse, the men are rival aluminum siding salesmen. For revenge, Mr. Dreyfuss decides to take Mr. DeVito's wife to bed. Fighting over Barbara Hershey (as Nora) is complicated because she and DeVito were initially nearing divorce, and Dreyfuss decides he likes her more than he thought. Fine Young Cannibals provide untimely but oddly complimentary soundtrack songs. The setting is very well done, but the story is not engaging.****** Tin Men (3/6/87) Barry Levinson ~ Richard Dreyfuss, Danny DeVito, Barbara Hershey, John Mahoney
j.owen8
Who would have thought that the frantic Bellboy in Mel Brooks' High Anxiety could write and direct a script of this subtlety? Being in 3 Mel Brooks films thankfully did not seem to affect him.This film is a 9 if not a 10, and repays repeated viewing , for the script,the direction,and the acting (everyone is superb,but Dreyfuss, Hershey,and DeVito are absolutely terrific).The period setting,as far as I can tell,is spot on. The reference to a future VW dealership for BB/Tilley,referred to in other comments(hinted at twice in the film) seems to miss the 'Golden Arch' that fills the final frame. The future might have been burgers as well as beetles!High Anxiety, on the other hand,represented the beginning of the end for Mel Brooks after the brilliance of The Producers,Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein.The only good thing in any otherwise VERY boring High Anxiety is Mel Brooks' hilarious impersonation of Frank Sinatra singing the title song.The rest is a very laboured and dire parody of Hitchcock, where Young Frankenstein was fresh and sustained parody of James Whale's films.
gracegibson
I just plain didn't like this movie. I didn't think any of the jokes were funny and it was boring. Who wants to watch a movie about TIN salesmen? I don't think Richard Dreyfuss or Danny DeVito are that funny. Plus, it was weird when Danny DeVito's wife had an affair with Richard Dreyfuss. I can't imagine Richard Dreyfuss having a romance in ANY movie. I'm sure plenty of people will disagree with me on this one, but I thought this was an awful movie. Bad comedies are the worst kinds of movies, the kind no one wants to watch. This is one of them. People who watch this movie are wasting their time. No doubt Richard Dreyfuss is a good actor, as we have seen from his Oscar for "The Goodbye Girl". I also enjoyed him in "Jaws". I just don't think comedy or romance is his vocation. As for Danny DeVito: he plays the same role each time and is good at those kinds of roles, but he's missing humor.
