Guillermo del Toro Praises Prime Video Thriller for “High-precision acting and writing.”
Are you in the mood for an underrated neo-noir that comes highly recommended by Guillermo del Toro? Well, I’ve got just what you need to scratch that very specific itch. I’m talking about a forgotten Alec Baldwin movie called Miami Blues. The Mimic director is a big fan of the film, that much is apparent from a previous Twitter (it will never be X to me) post.
Guillermo del Toro’s status update reads: “Film: Miami Blues by George Ermitage [sic]. One of the key sunny-noir movies of the end of the 20th century. High-precision acting and writing.”
Miami Blues is adapted from the novel of the same name by Charles Willeford. George Armitage takes the sole screenwriting credit in addition to helming.
The picture had a lively development phase with a couple of noteworthy near misses with talented creatives. The producers considered Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs) to direct at one point, but the decorated filmmaker instead suggested Armitage. Additionally, Gene Hackman was briefly attached to the project but Fred Ward eventually replaced him.
Orion Pictures held Miami Blues until after the release of The Hunt for Red October (a high-profile effort also starring an up-and-coming Baldwin). They likely hoped the buzz from The Hunt for Red October would bolster ticket sales for Miami Blues. Sadly, it did not. The film pulled in just under $10 million via its theatrical bow in the US and Canada.
Where can I watch Miami Blues?
Don’t make the mistake the moviegoing public made in 1990, do not sleep on this film. When you’re ready to experience this neo-noir thriller, make your way over to Prime Video to see what you think.
This is the setup (per Google Movies): After Junior (Baldwin) is released from prison, he plans on starting a new life in Miami. But when he kills a man in the airport, he flees the scene and finds Susie (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a mild-mannered prostitute searching for stability. The two opposites become romantically involved, and Junior steals a badge and gun from a veteran detective (Fred Ward). Using the officer’s identity, Junior embarks on a crime spree and convinces Susie that he is the perfect man.
There you have it, dear reader. Guillermo del Toro is a big fan of this gritty crime thriller and it’s available to stream on Prime Video. Make sure to stay tuned to the site in the near future for additional recommendations from your favorite creators in the genre space. In the meantime, if you’d like to keep up with my nonsense on social media, I’m on Threads as @FunWithHorror.
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