Tin Men
| Tin Men | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Barry Levinson |
| Written by | Barry Levinson |
| Produced by | Mark Johnson |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Peter Sova |
| Edited by | Stu Linder |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Distribution |
Release date |
|
Running time | 112 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $11 million |
| Box office | $25.4 million |
Tin Men is a 1987 American comedy film written and directed by Barry Levinson, produced by Mark Johnson, and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Danny DeVito, and Barbara Hershey.[1] It is the second of Levinson's tetralogy of films set in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, along with Diner (1982), Avalon (1990), and Liberty Heights (1999).[2]
Plot
Ernest Tilley and Bill "BB" Babowsky are rival
They first meet when BB, driving his new Cadillac automobile off the dealer's lot, backs into Tilley's own Cadillac. Though Tilley had the right of way, each man blames the other, and an escalating feud erupts between them.
After BB smashes Tilley's headlights and Tilley shatters BB's car windows in response, BB sets out to seduce Tilley's long-suffering wife Nora in revenge. Immediately after having sex with Nora, he calls Tilley to taunt him with the news. Tilley tells BB to keep Nora; he wants to be rid of her.
Meanwhile, both men have their own personal troubles. BB's older partner and mentor, Moe Adams, is hospitalized with a serious heart condition. Tilley has a gambling problem and squanders what little money he makes betting on horse races, causing a rift with Nora. He is in debt to various creditors and the
The newly formed Maryland Home Improvement Commission is investigating corrupt sales practices in the home improvement industry. Both men are subpoenaed, and after giving testimony about their sales practices, the commission takes away both of their licenses. While Tilley gives up his license reluctantly, BB does so willingly. Seeing that Tilley has lost everything, including his car, BB takes pity on him and gives him a ride. Together, the two freshly unemployed men with very similar personalities begin sharing ideas for a new business they can create for themselves.
Cast
- Richard Dreyfuss as Bill "B.B." Babowsky
- Danny DeVito as Ernest Tilley
- Barbara Hershey as Nora Tilley
- John Mahoney as Moe Adams
- Jackie Gayle as Sam
- Stanley Brock as Gil
- Seymour Cassel as "Cheese"
- Bruno Kirby as "Mouse"
- J.T. Walshas "Wing"
- Richard Portnow as Carly
- Matt Craven as "Looney"
- Alan Blumenfeld as Stanley
- Brad Sullivan as Masters
- Michael Tucker as "Bagel"
- Deirdre O'Connell as Nellie
Reception
Tin Men received positive reviews from critics, as the film holds a rating of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 7/10, based on 23 reviews.[3]
Music
The group Fine Young Cannibals appears as the house band in a nightclub in the film and contributed songs to the film's soundtrack, including the future US #1 "Good Thing".[4]
See also
References
- ^ Maslin, Janet (March 6, 1987). "FILM: 'TIN MEN,' COMEDY FROM BARRY LEVINSON". The New York Times.
- ^ Levinson, Barry (November 14, 1999). "Barry Levinson: Baltimore, My Baltimore". The New York Times.
- ^ Tin Men, retrieved 2022-05-10
- ^ Gerard, Chris (February 11, 2014). "Classic album revisited: Fine Young Cannibals "The Raw and The Cooked"". Metro Weekly.
External links
- Tin Men at IMDb
- Tin Men at AllMovie
- Tin Men at Rotten Tomatoes
- Tin Men at Box Office Mojo
