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Best Seller

Best Seller

Action · Crime · Drama · 1987

Hit man Cleve approaches writer/cop Dennis about a story for his next book: How Cleve made a living, working for one of the most powerful politicians in the country. To get the story right, they travel around the country to gather statements and evidence, while strong forces use any means they can to keep the story untold.

Movie details

Best Seller

“Writing A Book Is Easy. Writing A Best Seller Is Murder.”

1987 Action · Crime · Drama 1h 35m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.0 / 10

Community rating

Hit man Cleve approaches writer/cop Dennis about a story for his next book: How Cleve made a living, working for one of the most powerful politicians in the country. To get the story right, they travel around the country to gather statements and evidence, while strong forces use any means they can to keep the story untold.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Best Seller?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Hard to Kill

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A mild-mannered father is transformed into a killing machine after his family is torn apart by a violent act.

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The Dead Pool

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Class of 1984

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The Born Losers

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Flynn

Written by

Larry Cohen

James Woods

James Woods

Cleve

Brian Dennehy

Brian Dennehy

Dennis Meechum

Victoria Tennant

Victoria Tennant

Roberta Gillian

Allison Balson

Allison Balson

Holly Meechum

Paul Shenar

Paul Shenar

David Madlock

George Coe

George Coe

Graham

Anne Pitoniak

Anne Pitoniak

Mrs. Foster

Court is in session

Put Best Seller on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.