STRANGERS KISS (1983)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
Set in Hollywood, 1955, Peter Coyote plays Stanley, the director of a low-budget film set in New York City about a low-rent boxer who gets mixed up with a blonde femme fatale and gangsters. It is so low-budget that nobody in the crew is likely to get paid. Stanley and his producer, Farris (Dan Shor), are searching for their leading man, a boxer type. Many actors audition but one stands out, a funny, cocky actor named Stevie (Blaine Novak). He looks funny and strange and has a wild head of curly hair, but he fits the bill. Their leading actress, Carol Redding (Victoria Tennant), has already been cast. Filming is underway until Carol and Stevie start to slowly develop feelings for each other. This could destroy the production considering that the financier is Frank Silva (Richard Romanus), a rough gangster type who is too worried over his investment, and too preoccupied with Carol.
Viewed today amidst the countless movie-within-movie treatments we have been privy to, "Strangers Kiss" is most unusual and offbeat. Some of it is almost whimsical and some of it seems forced, but it is a fascinating foray into the artistic process of making something out of nothing. The noir B picture itself is nothing extraordinary but it does have some natural beauty, and it is fun seeing Stanley directing his actors to play scenes naturally without any obvious tics. The best scene is when Stevie has to kiss Carol, and keeps screwing it up so he can keep kissing her. It is a magical moment to witness.
The problem is that the real-life story of these characters is barely interesting. Romanus, taking a cue from his work in "Mean Streets," seems like a typical gangster who is jealous of his girlfriend's cinematic ambitions and her love for the lead actor. Romanus doesn't overplay it but there is nothing here that is special or daring about the role. Victoria Tennant is also bland as Carol, again she has more energy when she is on the film set than in her lazily written scenes with Romanus. The Stevie character is also bland in a strange way, exuding far more liveliness when we do not see him romantically wooing for Carol's attention. Maybe that was Chapman's intention - real life is not half as fun as the movies- but the "reality" scenes feel sterile at best.
Though Peter Coyote does not look anything like Stanley Kubrick, the master's obsessive attention to detail is certainly evoked. Coyote has never bored me as an actor and here, he delivers authority and presence - something most of the film actually lacks. As a curio for Kubrick film fans (and the references to Kube's own "Killer's Kiss"), "Strangers Kiss" is often illuminating and captivating but it does fall short of its expectations.
