The value of reading:

Reading makes life a lot easier.

D.O.A. (1988) – a dead man searching:

D.O.A. (1988) – a dead man searching:

Review by Jack Kost.

You’re never more alive than when you’re on the edge of death.

– Dennis Quaid, as Dexter Cornell.

What would you do if you were told you had maybe twenty-four hours to live … no more than forty-eight?

How would you react if you were then told you’d been deliberately poisoned?

You’re still alive, the poison ingested into your system, working through you.

Your life slowly and painfully ebbs away, and you are fully aware of every moment of it.

In your last hours, you know you’ve been murdered.

What would you do?

How would you spend that remaining time?

Counting every second … minute … hour …

This is the intriguing premise of D.O.A. (1988), directed by Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton, their debut movie, released in the United States on March 18, 1988.

A remake that becomes a reimagining of the 1949 original.

In a nostalgic homage to classic noir thrillers, this neo-noir update opens with a night scene, shot in grainy black and white.

Dexter Cornell (Dennis Quaid) walks through a torrential rainstorm.

His jacket is torn.

He looks beaten.

The title acronym: D.O.A. is short for Dead On Arrival.

That’s what Dexter is on the verge of being, as he stumbles into a police station, and knocks over a Christmas tree when he approaches the Desk Sergeant (William Johnson).

Dexter is visibly in pain, as he tells the cop he’s there to report a murder.

“Who was murdered?” the Desk Sergeant asks.

Dexter raises his head, looks him in the eye, and declares cryptically: “I was!”

In an interview room, Dexter relays his story to Detectives Ulmer (Brion James), and Brockton (Jack Kehoe), who record his statement onto video tape.

The rest of the story is then told in retrospect and in color.

A neat switch on some movies where flashback sequences are shown in black and white, or a hazy color filter.

The movie switches to color, as Dexter, now teaching his college class, writes the word COLOR on the chalkboard.

Dexter asks his class for references to the color green.

Star student and aspiring novelist, Nicholas Lang (Robert Knepper), offers the most intelligent answer with a quote from Othello, by William Shakespeare:

O, beware my lord of jealousy. It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.

Jealousy is a driving theme of the movie.

Jealousy triggered by an extra-marital affair.

Jealousy of other people’s achievements.

Jealousy of status.

It’s the Christmas season, but there’s no good cheer going around.

Passions and tempers are as hot as the unseasonal sweltering heat.

Dexter Cornell is not happy with his life.

He’s a chain-smoking, alcohol-guzzling, depressive.

His marriage has failed and, despite his attempts at reconciliation, his estranged wife, Gail (Jane Kaczmarek), has long since given up.

Whenever they talk, she pesters him to sign the divorce papers.

His success as a novelist secured him the respected position of college English Professor.

Afraid of failure, he simply stopped writing and settled into teaching.

Dexter gave up on what was truly important to him.

His lack of passion then affected all aspects of his life.

Dennis Quaid is convincing in the role.

A cynical everyman.

Weighed down by life.

Looking ever more disheveled, shaky, and sweaty.

The first body on the pile is Nicholas Lang.

His on-campus death, at first thought to be suicide, is later discovered to be murder.

The script is intelligent.

The caustic dialogue is wry and humorous, particularly in the scene when the cops question Dexter in his ex-wife’s home.

Gail has been murdered, and it is revealed that Dexter has been deliberately poisoned.

Brockton:

Careful, Cornell. You’re upset.

Dexter:

You’re damn right I’m upset. I find out I’m a murder victim and a suspect all in one goddam day.

Dexter evades arrest for the murders of Gail and Lang.

The cops refuse to believe he’s not the culprit.

Dexter then sets out to solve the mystery himself.

The plot has effective twists, turns, and red herrings along the way, as Dexter has dealings with Sydney Fuller (Meg Ryan), an admiring student Dexter gets literally stuck on.

Mrs. Fitzwaring (Charlotte Rampling), a shadowy Black Widow, and Lang’s benefactor.

Bernard (Christopher Neame), Fitzwaring’s Chauffeur and violent right-hand man.

Cookie (Robin Johnson), Fitzwaring’s daughter.

Hal Petersham (Daniel Stern), Dexter’s friend and colleague.

Graham Corey (Jay Patterson), Dexter’s disgruntled colleague.

Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton’s previous experience with directing music videos is evident in the nightclub scene, where Dexter and Sydney get drunk at the bar, downing endless Martinis, and the on-stage Rock band, Timbuk 3 (1983-1995), sing: Too Much Sex, Not Enough Affection.

Their other directing credits include Super Mario Bros (1993), and the Max Headroom TV show (1985).

This neo-noir mystery thriller successfully has all the elements and atmosphere of a classic noir:

Rain-soaked streets.

Light cutting through Venetian blinds.

Suspicion and mistakes along wrong trails and dead-end leads.

Hard-nosed cops, hardboiled dialogue, and sardonic wit.

Unscrupulous characters chasing their own selfish motives.

A killer lurking in the shadows, his motive as-yet unknown.

An ordinary man, who doesn’t consider himself extraordinary, thrown into extraordinary circumstances.

The production company, Touchstone Pictures, set the tone for an old-style thriller.

Their logo and name appear on screen in monochrome black and white, with a thunder crack and lightning flash, before the movie even starts.

Two suspenseful cliff-hanger set-pieces involve the off-camera killer indulging in some nail gun fun, while Dexter and Sydney get unstuck in an ascending elevator car, and a violent confrontation with two characters ending up dead in a tar pit.

The cinematography and editing are also effective, particularly in the scenes where Dexter looks out of a high-rise dormitory window, the poison in his system taking hold, inducing in him a reaction of acrophobia.

Dexter sees himself plummeting to the sidewalk.

A sense of what Lang might have glimpsed in his last moments, as he plunged from the college rooftop.

Dexter’s panicked and aimless run through the crowded streets, after he has escaped the cops, and wonders where to go and what the hell to do next.

The final wrap-up is well handled.

The reveal is a sudden, but logical twist, with an insightful statement on the real value and reward of what it is to be a writer.

In the climactic fight scene, as Dexter’s energy and life ebbs, so the color also drains back to black and white.

Dexter, transitioned from college English Professor to Private Detective in his own murder case, then comes full circle, as he finishes relaying his findings to the two detectives.

It’s no surprise that Dexter accepts his fate.

He has no other choice.

We know from the first scene that he’s a dead man walking, searching for the motive and culprit behind his own murder.

His story and quest are told with gallows humor and energetic pacing.

The color green is always there, hanging over them, dooming them all.

The green-eyed monster of jealousy, poisoning minds, like the luminous green poison slowly killing Dexter.

Dexter’s departure to the afterlife, is shown as a final walk down a dimly lit corridor, towards an open, light-filled door.

The light intensifies and his silhouette vanishes.

As the end credits roll, it's a cinematic fade to black for Dexter and the audience.

On this day in music history - I'm Outta Love, by Anastacia (2000)

 

I'm Outta Love

by Anastacia

was released on February 29, 2000.

Included on the album Not That Kind (2000).

 

Born on this day – Margit Carstensen:

Margit Carstensen

Actress

February 29, 1940 – June 1, 2023

Credits:

Tatort (2016); Finsterworld (2013); Eine Kirche der Angst vor dem Fremden in mir (2009); Hände weg von Mississippi (2007); It Is Fine! Everything Is Fine. (2007); Der Hauptmann von Köpenick (2005); Agnes and His Brothers (2004); Scherbentanz (2002); Der Narr und seine Frau heute Abend in Pancomedia (2002); Manila (2000); John Gabriel Borkman (2000); Sun Alley (1999); Feuerreiter (1998); Gesches Gift (1997); Die 120 Tage von Bottrop (1997); Anwalt Abel (1997); Terror 2000 - Intensivstation Deutschland (1992); Role Play: Women on Fassbinder (1992); Derrick (1991); Untergrund (1989); 100 Jahre Adolf Hitler - Die letzte Stunde im Führerbunker (1989); La moitié de l'amour (1985); Angry Harvest (1985); The Roaring Fifties (1983); Liebeskonzil (1982); Possession (1981); Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980); The Third Generation (1979); Kalte Heimat (1978); Spiel der Verlierer (1978); Women in New York (1977); Adolf und Marlene (1977); Chinese Roulette (1976); Satan's Brew (1976); Fear of Fear (1975); Mother Kusters Goes to Heaven (1975); Effi Briest (1974); Martha (1974); Nora Helmer (1974); World on a Wire (1973); Tenderness of the Wolves (1973); Eight Hours Don't Make a Day (1972); Bremen Freedom (1972); The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (1972); Die Ahnfrau - Oratorium nach Franz Grillparzer (1971); The Niklashausen Journey (1970); The Coffee Shop (1970); Die Bräute meiner Söhne (1965); Liebe ist besser als Krieg - Erotische Lyrik und lose Lieder aus drei Jahrtausenden (1965).

Born on this day – Alex Rocco:

 

Alex Rocco

Actor

February 29, 1936 – July 18, 2015

Credits:

Don't Sleep (2017); Silver Skies (2016); Maron (2015); Episodes (2014–2015); Scammerhead (2014); Magic City (2012–2013); The House Across the Street (2013); Private Practice (2012); Blackbird (2011); The Life & Times of Tim (2011); And They're Off (2011); Batman: Year One (2011); Now Here (2010); Fallout: New Vegas (2010); Party Down (2010); Ready or Not (2009); The Wedding Bells (2007); Smokin' Aces (2006); Jam (2006); Find Me Guilty (2006); ER (2005); Crazylove (2005); The Division (2001–2004); Restive Planet (2004); The Job (2003); Lucky (2003); Touched by an Angel (2003); The Country Bears (2002); Big Shot: Confessions of a Campus Bookie (2002); Space (2002); Family Guy (1999–2001); Italian Ties (2001); The Wedding Planner (2001); The Angry Beavers (2000); The Last Producer (2000); Walker, Texas Ranger (2000); The Practice (2000); Sam Churchill: Search for a Homeless Man (1999); Family Law (1999); Pepper Ann (1998–1999); Dudley Do-Right (1999); Just Shoot Me! (1999); Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1999); One Life to Live (1999); A Bug's Life (1998); Silk Stalkings (1998); Goodbye Lover (1998); Michael Hayes (1998); Home Improvement (1997); Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher (1997); Early Edition (1997); Just Write (1997); Goode Behavior (1997); The Simpsons (1990–1997); Dead of Night (1996); Mad About You (1996); That Thing You Do! (1996); Pinky and the Brain (1996); Hope & Gloria (1995); Partners (1995); Can't Hurry Love (1995); Get Shorty (1995); The George Carlin Show (1994–1995); The Spy Within (1995); Harmful Intent (1993); Bonkers (1993); Love, Honor & Obey: The Last Mafia Marriage (1993); Sibs (1991–1992); Boris and Natasha (1992); The Pope Must Diet (1991); An Inconvenient Woman (1991); Midnight Caller (1991); The Famous Teddy Z (1989–1990); A Quiet Little Neighborhood, a Perfect Little Murder (1990); How to Murder a Millionaire (1990); Carol & Company (1990); Murphy Brown (1989); Wired (1989); Dream a Little Dream (1989); Lady in White (1988); The Facts of Life (1981–1988); The Magical World of Disney (1988); Hunter (1987); Hotel (1987); Rags to Riches (1987); CBS Summer Playhouse (1987); Scenes from the Goldmine (1987); Return to Horror High (1987); P.K. and the Kid (1987); T.J. Hooker (1984–1986); Murder, She Wrote (1985–1986); Hollywood Beat (1985); Stiffs (1985); The Golden Girls (1985); Badge of the Assassin (1985); Gotcha! (1985); Braker (1985); Stick (1985); The A-Team (1985); Jessie (1984); Hot Pursuit (1984); The Love Boat (1983–1984); Simon & Simon (1982–1984); St. Elsewhere (1984); Steambath (1984); Hardcastle and McCormick (1984); Cannonball Run II (1984); Matt Houston (1984); The Best of Times (1983); Small & Frye (1983); High Performance (1983); The First Time (1982); The Entity (1982); Nobody's Perfekt (1981); Riker (1981); The Gangster Chronicles (1981); CHiPs (1980); Herbie Goes Bananas (1980); The Stunt Man (1980); Voices (1979); The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank (1978); Rabbit Test (1978); A Question of Guilt (1978); Johnny Staccato (1976–1977); What Really Happened to the Class of '65? (1977); Starsky and Hutch (1977); The Godfather Saga (1977); Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue (1977); Husbands and Wives (1977); Fire Sale (1977); Baretta (1977); Dog and Cat (1977); Barnaby Jones (1977); The Rockford Files (1977); Police Story (1975–1977); The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1977); Three for the Road (1975); Hearts of the West (1975); A Woman for All Men (1975); The Blue Knight (1975); Cannon (1972–1975); Twigs (1975); Hustling (1975); Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins (1975); Kojak (1973–1975); Freebie and the Bean (1974); Get Christie Love! (1974); The Rookies (1974); Three the Hard Way (1974); Lotsa Luck! (1974); Legend in Granite (1973); Detroit 9000 (1973); The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973); Slither (1973); Circle of Fear (1973); Mission: Impossible (1971–1973); The Outside Man (1972); The F.B.I. (1972); Bonnie's Kids (1972); Stanley (1972); The Godfather (1972); Brute Corps (1971); Wild Riders (1971); That Girl (1970–1971); Blood Mania (1970); The Old Man Who Cried Wolf (1970); The Boston Strangler (1968); Get Smart (1967); The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967); Batman (1967); Run for Your Life (1967); Motorpsycho! (1965).

Born on this day – Joss Ackland:

 

Joss Ackland

Actor

February 29, 1928 – November 19, 2023

Credits:

Aeris (2014); Decline of an Empire (2014); The Portrait (2014); Prisoners of the Sun (2013); The Stain (2011); The Boy with Chocolate Fingers (2011); Crusoe (2008–2010); Pinocchio (2009); IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey (2009); In Search of the Great Beast 666 (2007); How About You (2007); Flawless (2007); Kingdom (2007); Above and Beyond (2006); Hogfather (2006); Moscow Zero (2006); These Foolish Things (2006); Midsomer Murders (2006); The Christmas Eve Snowfall (2005); Blue Peter (2005); Icon (2005); Asylum (2005); A Different Loyalty (2004); Henry VIII (2003); Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003); I'll Be There (2003); Lionheart: The Crusade (2003); A World in Arms (2002); K-19: The Widowmaker (2002); No Good Deed (2002); Othello (2001); Lounge Act (2000); The Mumbo Jumbo (2000); Gioco di specchi (2000); Tales from the Madhouse (2000); Passion of Mind (2000); Milk (1999); Il figlio di Sandokan (1998); My Giant (1998); Heat of the Sun (1998); Firelight (1997); Swept from the Sea (1997); Bedtime Stories (1996); Testament: The Bible in Animation (1996); To the Ends of Time (1996); D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996); Surviving Picasso (1996); Screen Two (1993–1996); Hidden in Silence (1996); Daisies in December (1995); A Kid in King Arthur's Court (1995); Mad Dogs and Englishmen (1995); Citizen X (1995); OcchioPinocchio (1994); Jacob (1994); Shakespeare: The Animated Tales (1994); Miracle on 34th Street (1994); Giorgino (1994); Citizen Locke (1994); Mother's Boys (1993); The Thief and the Cobbler (1993); Nowhere to Run (1993); The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992); The Mighty Ducks (1992); Shadowchaser (1992); White Bear's Secret (1992); Once Upon a Crime... (1992); Jackanory (1987–1992); Sherlock Holmes: Incident at Victoria Falls (1992); Miss Marple: They Do It with Mirrors (1991); Brown Bear's Wedding (1991); The Princess and the Goblin (1991); Ashenden (1991); The Bridge (1991); A Woman Named Jackie (1991); A Murder of Quality (1991); Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991); The Object of Beauty (1991); The Sheltering Desert (1991); Never the Sinner (1990); Tre colonne in cronaca (1990); Spymaker: The Secret Life of Ian Fleming (1990); The Hunt for Red October (1990); The Palermo Connection (1990); Jekyll and Hyde (1990); First and Last (1989); Lethal Weapon 2 (1989); The Man Who Lived at the Ritz (1989); The Justice Game (1989); A Quiet Conspiracy (1989); Olympus Force: The Key (1988); To Kill A Priest (1988); Codename: Kyril (1988); Tales of the Unexpected (1980–1988); When We Are Married (1987); Pet Shop Boys: Always on My Mind (1987); It Couldn't Happen Here (1987); White Mischief (1987); The Sicilian (1987); Queenie (1987); A Killing on the Exchange (1987); Omnibus (1986); Shadowlands (1986); The Great White Mountain (1986); Lady Jane (1986); A Zed & Two Noughts (1985); The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1985); The Tragedy of Coriolanus (1984); Shroud for a Nightingale (1984); The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1982); Escape to the West (1982); The Confessions of Felix Krull (1982); BBC2 Playhouse (1981); Thicker Than Water (1981); Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective (1981); The Apple (1980); The Gentle Touch (1980); Closing Ranks (1980); Rough Cut (1980); A Question of Guilt (1980); A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (1980); Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979); Caligula (1979); Turtle's Progress (1979); Saint Jack (1979); The Love Tapes (1979); The Sweeney (1978); Watership Down (1978); Return of the Saint (1978); Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978); The Greek Tycoon (1978); Enemy at the Door (1978); The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It (1977); Silver Bears (1977); The Crezz (1976); Aquarius (1974–1976); Centre Play (1976); Operation Daybreak (1975); Royal Flash (1975); One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975); Great Expectations (1974); The Little Prince (1974); Miss Nightingale (1974); S*P*Y*S (1974); The Black Windmill (1974); The Protectors (1974); The Three Musketeers (1973); Orson Welles' Great Mysteries (1973); England Made Me (1973); Penny Gold (1973); Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973); The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1971); Play for Today (1970–1973); Late Night Theatre (1972); Six Faces (1972); Country Matters (1972); The Mind Snatchers (1972); ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1972); Thirty-Minute Theatre (1971–1972); The Persuaders! (1972); Justice (1972); Cry of the Penguins (1971); Shirley's World (1971); Villain (1971); One Pair of Eyes (1971); The House That Dripped Blood (1971); Crescendo (1970); BBC Play of the Month (1966–1970); Canterbury Tales (1969); W. Somerset Maugham (1969); The Gold Robbers (1969); The Avengers (1969); Z Cars (1964–1968); Mystery and Imagination (1966–1968); Mogul (1966–1968); The Wednesday Play (1965–1967); Trapped (1967); The Further Adventures of the Musketeers (1967); Armchair Theatre (1965–1967); Theatre 625 (1965–1966); The Suspect (1966); Lord Raingo (1966); David Copperfield (1966); Dr. Finlay's Casebook (1966); Rasputin: The Mad Monk (1966); No Hiding Place (1965); The Good Soldier Schweik (1965); Blackmail (1965); Gaslight Theatre (1965); Pity About the Abbey (1965); The Sign of Four (1965); The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling (1964); Detective (1964); First Night (1964); In Search of the Castaways (1962); About Religion (1961); ITV Play of the Week (1959–1961); On Trial (1960); A Midsummer Night's Dream (1959); The DuPont Show of the Month (1959); Next to No Time! (1958); Destination Downing Street (1957); Ghost Ship (1952); Seven Days to Noon (1950); Landfall (1949).

Born on this day – Michèle Morgan:

Michèle Morgan

Actress

February 29, 1920 – December 20, 2016

Credits:

La rivale (1999); Des gens si bien élevés (1997); La veuve de l'architecte (1995); Everybody's Fine (1990); Le tiroir secret (1986); A Man and a Woman: 20 Years Later (1986); La guerre de Troie n'aura pas lieu (1984); Le tout pour le tout (1981); Robert et Robert (1978); Cat and Mouse (1975); The Diary of an Innocent Boy (1968); La bien-aimée (1967); Lost Command (1966); Dis-moi qui tuer (1965); Les yeux cernés (1964); Les pas perdus (1964); Web of Fear (1964); Méfiez-vous, mesdames! (1963); Il fornaretto di Venezia (1963); Bluebeard (1963); Crime Does Not Pay (1962); Rencontres (1962); The Lions Are Loose (1961); Le puits aux trois vérités (1961); Fortunat (1960); Les scélérats (1960); Grand Hotel (1959); Vacanze d'inverno (1959); Too Late to Love (1959); Love on the Riviera (1958); Maxime (1958); The Mirror Has Two Faces (1958); Retour de manivelle (1957); The Vintage (1957); Shadow of the Guillotine (1956); Si Paris nous était conté (1956); Marguerite de la nuit (1955); The Grand Maneuver (1955); Napoleon (1955); Oasis (1955); Obsession (1954); Daughters of Destiny (1954); Studio One (1953); The Proud and the Beautiful (1953); Jeanne (1952); The Moment of Truth (1952); The Seven Deadly Sins (1952); L'étrange Madame X (1951); The Glass Castle (1950); The Naked Heart (1950); La belle que voilà (1950); Fabiola (1949); Aux yeux du souvenir (1948); The Fallen Idol (1948); The Chase (1946); Pastoral Symphony (1946); Passage to Marseille (1944); Higher and Higher (1943); Two Tickets to London (1943); The Heart of a Nation (1943); Joan of Paris (1942); Remorques (1941); Musicians of Heaven (1940); La loi du nord (1939); L'entraîneuse (1939); Coral Reefs (1939); Port of Shadows (1938); Orage (1938); Heart of Paris (1937); Gigolette (1937); Mes tantes et moi (1937); Forty Little Mothers (1936); Une fille à papa (1936); Meet Miss Mozart (1936); La vie parisienne (1935).