Stiletto Dance (2001)

This is not the usual pole dancing nudity and cartoon violence action picture. There are interesting characters, and a script that is so over the top in believability that it is totally enjoyable. Doublecrosses abound. You get fringe players who work for both the mob and the good guys. There is some sharp humor, especially from the Russian mob boss. Eric Roberts gives a solid performance, with nice support from Romano Orzari and Yaphet Kotto. There are some imaginative twists and turns, and a conclusion that is far from predictable. So, what you wind up with is brutal violence, sex, and of all things, a story. Recommended of it's type. - MERK

Poor Buffalo, New York! All the snow they get there and then a movie like this blows into town too. And when I say blows, I mean BA-LOWS! The best parts of this one belong to the stunning Russian babe. Without her soft-core porn scenes to keep your eyes peeled for there'd be no reason to tune in in the first place. Not unless you have a sick affinity for a violently aggregated body count that would make Tarantino blush! The bloodbath finale is so painful to watch that you end up hoping a stray dum-dum passes through your TV screen straight into your brain! I mean, they actually stage the scene in an all white room just so the blood will show up better when splattered on the walls! Well that's the ten line minimum that the IMDb forces upon reviewers. Yep, ten lines just to say "It Stinks!"

This thriller has Tarantino`s forged signature written all over it . It starts with a funky monologue which instantly revives memories of Tim Roth in a certain film . Add to this a shock revelation of a couple of villains who aren`t who they appear to be , some novelty violence involving a jealous wife and a coffee grinder , a running joke about a suit being ruined and the bizarre site of a member of the clergy tooled up . I was expecting someone to come out with a line about " I`m stuck in the middle with you " and the homage would have been complete . The other thing that struck me was this could only have been a HBO production . I didn`t know this at the time but later finding out it was made sense . Have you ever noticed watching an episode of OZ there always seems to be a sudden upsurge of profane dialogue in the slower episodes ? It`s almost as if the producers of the show have got round a table with the writers and said " Okay we`re pretty low on shankings and gang rapes this week so can you make sure the F word appears at least three times in every sentence just to indicate it`s an adult show " . Well in STILETTO DANCE when people aren`t getting blown away or getting limbs chopped off the characters often seem to revert to ridiculous amounts of swearing . I can`t really emphasise how false the dialogue sounds in these scenes , especially the bit where the police captain is explaining the plot to the two good guys in the car park .One final comment . I know Eric Roberts career is now a bit of a joke starring in cable and straight to video films such as this , but he really does deserve much better and I look forward to seeing him play a memorable screen villain in a blockbuster someday

Stiletto Dance was a made for HBO movie. HBO is known for its fine and large collection of self-made movies such as: "Rasputin" and "Hostile Waters". This film, while maybe not Oscar material, is a highly entertaining film none the less. The film centers around the Russian mafia of Buffalo, NY. The boss Anton, played by Shawn Doyle,is the most intriguing and entertaining character. This film was my first experience with Doyle, who delievers a marvelous performance. He gives Anton a powerful and dangerous, yet elegant and wildly entertaining personality. Anton's rants are early and often, and provide some of the most amusing elements of the film. Doyle (Anton) makes the littlest actions seem essential, for without him the film wouldn't be nearly as good. Anton is crazy yet calculated in his actions planning to sell a nuclear device to the Albanians for $100 Million. The film leads up to this after showing various examples of "heavy work". Anton plays the field making deals with rival organizations only to later break any and all ties. "You don't trust Anton?" The film also featured Eric Roberts, as the seasoned undercover veteran. Roberts actually does a good job with the role. Bringing together various factors to create a complex and multi-dimensional character. He is a healthy blend of a dedicated officer combined with a more evil, diabolical side. The film plays host to a wide range of action. It offers a more refreshing plot line than similar films. Overall, you will be entertained and amused by this film. Doyle's performance more than warrents a viewing by itself. 3 out of 4 stars.