Norman Mailer is one of America's great writers, however, he came spectacularly unstuck when scripting and directing this movie. The dialogue is appalling - it might have worked on the printed page but it's embarrassingly bad when spoken. The direction is flat as a pancake, much of the acting is over the top, and usually coupled with bad Southern accents, and the plot descends into ridiculous melodrama almost immediately. It would be totally forgettable except for the presence of the radiant Isabella Rossellini - just fast forward to her scenes or don't watch it in the first place. You'll be missing nothing.
Review of Tough Guys Don't Dance
