Kicked in the Head (1997)

Not often that a decently produced film with some veteran actors gets a rating as low as this one. I watched it on Sundance channel with no advance idea of its origin. I am fairly convinced, however, that its flaws relate to the origins of its ingredients.First, you take some young New Yorkers who may or may not be on speed and get them to write a treatment for a film in small script in an even smaller notebook. Then you have them read it back to themselves after they have come down off their high, reflecting if possible on any chaotic dreams they can remember. Tell them to include all the stock New York characters and clichés in no apparent order, jumping all over the place in time and location.Next you hire some really great local character actors who are between engagements to play some zany but recognizable types. Add a couple of actresses to play, respectively, a one-note looker and a drippy high school sweetheart type. Then cast one of yourselves in the main protagonist role as an aspiring writer with no real talent either as a writer or actor. A cute dog and maybe even someone's cat could provide added appeal.Then comes the hard part: getting someone short on IQ but long on money to finance the whole thing and let it go wherever it takes you. Marketing can come later.This turkey is saved by inspired character acting. I particularly liked Burt Young playing a role he has played many times, and I thought John Ventimiglia was terrific. Pity it had to be in this film.

i was completely unaware of this movie when it was in theatrical release.i stumbled across it while watching on cable, and was immediately entranced.although it is edgy and modern, it has a similar allure for me as "a thousand clowns"(Jason robards,jr).new york city is a principal character(i admit that the locations in lower Manhattan are my old stomping grounds)which will usually add to the appeal of any movie. following REDMOND as he wanders from his lower east side home to bizarre beer distributor wars to incomprehensible black market deals to the haunting allure of an alcoholic flight attendant 'guardian angel' is funny,compelling, and repeatedly watchable. corrigan's efforts in front of and behind the camera are admirable.not to be missed is James woods' UNCLE SAM. he's a crazy incorrigible hustler who adds a wistful element to a lowlife character.

This is a film that really drives home the point that, alas, morning always comes.One of the best indie flicks I've seen in a long time, and nearly on par with one of my favorites, "Floundering".In fact, there is an argument to be made that "Kicked in the Head" is an East Coast take on many of the same weird experiences as "Floundering". Both films have a 'mob spin', people who get shot at but don't die, an 'older woman' as a love interest, cameos by great actors, difficult relatives, and solid, if slightly bemused protagonists. Both films are really modern retellings of "Candide", with the LA Riots and the Hindenburg disaster serving as the "Lisbon Earthquake" of "Floundering" and "Kicked in the Head" respectively. Although the search for the truth in "Kicked in the Head" gets a touch abbreviated, well, let me just say, if Linda Fiorentino wanted to wrap me up that way, I'd relax and enjoy it.Both films are more interesting and fulfilling quests for the truth than "Dogma", which rather overplayed its hand. They ain't Hal Hartley, but they are definitely worth the rental, for the mental stimulation and occasional guffaws they engender.

Kicked in the Head rocked, it was hilarious and Matthew Harrison was excellent in the movie. He is going to be a big star one day, he's such a great actor. The movie kicked butt, and I would recommend it to anyone.