The Hot Spot

Infobox Film
name = The Hot Spot


image_size =
caption = Theatrical poster
director = Dennis Hopper
producer = Paul Lewis
writer = Nona Tyson (screenplay)
Charles Williams (screenplay; book "Hell Hath No Fury")
narrator =
starring = Don Johnson
Virginia Madsen
Jennifer Connelly
music = Jack Nitzsche
cinematography = Ueli Steiger
editing = Wende Phifer Mate
distributor = Orion Pictures
released = September 8, 1990 (Toronto Film Festival)
October 12, 1990
runtime = 130 minutes
country = USA
language = English
budget =
gross = $1,293,976
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id = 1:23273
imdb_id = 0099797

"The Hot Spot" is a 1990 American drama and romance film directed by Dennis Hopper and starring Don Johnson, Virginia Madsen, and Jennifer Connelly. It's based on the book "Hell Hath No Fury" by Charles Williams. Its soundtrack features John Lee Hooker, Miles Davis, Taj Mahal and Roy Rogers.

Plot

Drifter Harry Madox (Don Johnson) gets a job as a local used car retailer in a small Texas town and looks for an opportunity to rob the local bank. Harry's boss' wife (Madsen) finds out about his plan and wants to use him for her own advantage, but problems arise when he also begins to fall in love with the accountant (Connelly) at work.

Production

Charles Williams wrote a screenplay of his own novel with Nona Tyson in 1962.cite news | last = Thomas | first = Bob | coauthors = | title = Director Hopper's back in hot spot with new film | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = The Advertiser | date = November 22, 1990 | url = | accessdate = ] It was intended for Robert Mitchum. Many years later, Dennis Hopper found the script and updated it. The director described the film as "Last Tango in Texas. Real hot, steamy stuff".cite news | last = Krum | first = S | coauthors = | title = Why Dennis Got Back on His Bike | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Herald | date = April 18, 1990 | url = | accessdate = ] A bedroom scene originally called for Madsen to appear naked, but she decided to put on a negligee because she felt that, "Not only was the nudity weak storywise, but it didn't let the audience undress her".cite news | last = Hayward | first = J | coauthors = | title = Screen Sirens Sense and Sexuality | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Courier-Mail | date = June 9, 1990 | url = | accessdate = ] Hopper later admitted that Madsen was right. The director gave his impressions of working with Johnson: "He wasn't that bad. He has a lot of people with him. He came on to this film with two bodyguards, a cook, a trainer, ah let's see, a helicopter pilot he comes to and from the set in a helicopter, very glamorous let's see, two drivers, a secretary, and, oh yes, his own hair person, his own make-up person, his own wardrobe person. So when he walks to the set he has five people with him".cite news | last = Malcolm | first = Derek | coauthors = | title = The Hopper file | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = The Guardian | date = November 29, 1990 | url = | accessdate = ] Johnson found Hopper's approach to filmmaking "a little disappointing, I gotta tell you".cite news | last = Trebbe | first = Ann | coauthors = | title = Movie Marlboro Man | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = USA Today | date = August 23, 1991 | url = | accessdate = ] Hopper shot the film in Texas during what he described as the "hottest, steamiest weather you could imagine".cite news | last = Krum | first = S | coauthors = | title = Hopper's back in the hot spot | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Herald Sun | date = October 23, 1990 | url = | accessdate = ]

Reception

"The Hot Spot" had its world premiere at the 1990 Toronto Film Festival.cite news | last = Harris | first = Christopher | coauthors = | title = Frears to attend premiere | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Globe and Mail | date = August 29, 1990 | url = | accessdate = ] The film was released on October 12, 1990 in 23 theaters grossing USD $112,188 in its opening weekend. The film grossed only $1.2 million in the North America, far less than the cost of its production.cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = "The Hot Spot" | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Box Office Mojo | date = | url = http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=hotspot.htm | accessdate = 2008-03-27 ]

"The Hot Spot" received generally mixed reviews from critics and currently has a 67 percent rating at Rotten Tomatoes. In her review for the "New York Times", Janet Maslin wrote, "Mr. Hopper's direction is tough and stylish, in effective contrast with the sunny look of Ueli Steiger's cinematography".cite news | last = Maslin | first = Janet | coauthors = | title = Taxidermy and Temptations: Dennis Hopper's Dark World | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = New York Times | date = October 12, 1990 | url = | accessdate = ] "USA Today" gave the film two-and-a-half stars out of four and wrote, "In other words, Hopper's direction isn't any great shakes, and the wrap-up is somewhat confusing, but this film does make you want to go skinny-dipping with someone else's mate".cite news | last = Clark | first = Mike | coauthors = | title = Sexy "Hot Spot" loses some sizzle over time | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = USA Today | date = October 12, 1990 | url = | accessdate = ] In his review for the "Washington Post", Desson Howe wrote, "Hot Spot" will never go down as timeless, neoclassic noir. But, with its Hopperlike moments, over-the-top performances and infectious music, it carries you along for a spell".cite news | last = Howe | first = Desson | coauthors = | title = Hopper Marks "The Hot Spot" | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Washington Post | date = October 26, 1990 | url = | accessdate = ]

Hopper was upset that Johnson did not promote the film and claimed that, "He says he's not going to do anything for this picture until he reads the reviews".cite news | last = Trebbe | first = Ann | coauthors = | title = Hopper, hopping mad at Johnson | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = USA Today | date = September 11, 1990 | url = | accessdate = ] Johnson claims that he was unable to do promotion because he was making a film with Mickey Rourke.

oundtrack

The soundtrack to the film is composed by Jack Nitzsche and features an original collaboration between John Lee Hooker, Miles Davis, Taj Mahal and Roy Rogers. A sample from one track, "Harry's Philosophy", was later used on "Sure Thing", a single from St. Germain's album Tourist.

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0099797|title=The Hot Spot
*amg movie|id=1:23273|title=The Hot Spot
*rotten-tomatoes|id=1030149-hot_spot|title=The Hot Spot
*mojo title|id=hotspot|title=The Hot Spot