[Jon Aanensen]

First was Gus van Sant’s DEAD MAN’S WIRE, which was a pretty straightforward hostage drama — but the real-life source story was rather thin, so it didn’t do much to heighten the proceedings. It’s like “boiling soup on nails”, as a Norwegian expression goes. But great 70s colourite, washed out, heavy on browns. Elfman’s percussive score tries to do another DEAD PRESIDENTS, but never reaches those levels. It plays second fiddle to the period songs.

This film has got 121 producers, according to imdb. What the heck is happening with Hollywood??