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Novocaine
2001
Screenwriter David Atkins (ARIZONA DREAM) makes his directorial debut with the black comedy NOVOCAINE. Frank Sangster (Steve Martin), a nice-guy dentist with a thriving practice, shares his perfectly ordered, successful life with his cheerily plastic hygienist-fiancee, Jean (Laura Dern). Frank's structured world is suddenly .. Read more
| Starring | Helena Bonham-Carter, Steve Martin, Laura Dern, Scott Caan |
|---|---|
| Director | David Atkins |
| Genres | Drama |
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Novocaine
Screenwriter David Atkins (ARIZONA DREAM) makes his directorial debut with the black comedy NOVOCAINE. Frank Sangster (Steve Martin), a nice-guy dentist with a thriving practice, shares his perfectly ordered, successful life with his cheerily plastic hygienist-fiancee, Jean (Laura Dern). Frank's structured world is suddenly flipped upside down when his good-for-nothing brother, Harlan (Elias Koteas), comes to town and a dangerously attractive drug-seeking patient, Susan (Helena Bonham-Carter), shows up in his office. When Susan absconds with the office's narcotics supply, Frank is too smitten by her bad-girl beauty to turn her into the DEA. Instead, he constructs a web of lies, carelessly jeopardizing his practice and future marriage, just to see the femme fatale again. Frank's troubles multiply when Susan's violent junkie brother, Duane (Scott Caan), discovers the budding dentist-patient relationship and Susan wishes aloud that Duane would just "disappear."
Atkins' absurdist take on the time-honored conventions of film noir features strong performances, particularly from Dern as the intensely chipper Jean, and from Kevin Bacon in a wry cameo. The gruesome finale can take its place alongside MARATHON MAN in the annals of cinematic dental horror.
| Starring | Helena Bonham-Carter, Steve Martin, Laura Dern, Scott Caan, Lynn Thigpen, Keith David |
|---|---|
| Director | David Atkins |
| Studio | MOMENTUM PICTURES |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 31 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 20 Jan 2003 Production year: 2001 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (2)
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Having written the screenplay for Emir Kusturica's eccentric and appealing Arizona Dream, first-time director David Atkins bites off more than he can chew with this numbingly mediocre comedy. Opening improbably and becoming increasingly implausible by the minute, the story turns on respectable dentist Steve Martin's dangerous liaison with tearaway Helena Bonham Carter and her drug-dealing brother, Scott Caan. However, only Laura Dern as Martin's prudish fiancée makes a comic impression. The rest are left floundering in a farce that seems beyond the control of its inexperienced director.
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Hmm, dentistry noir. Martin plays Frank Sangster, an easy-going LA tooth doctor with a cornball hygienist-girlfriend... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Stylish Film Noir - Suffers from Low Budget
Steve Martin's character in Novocaine has a good life. A successful dentist, he is engaged to wed his stunning helper. However, things start to go wrong when he falls in love with a patient and his life begins to spin out of control.
Set in present day LA this thiller-cum-noir-cum-comedy aims to confuse and entertain the watcher. The twists and turns of the plot work well as we see Steve Martin's character being set up for murder.
The films low point comes at the end where the imagination of the film maker seems to run out. Also the lack of budget gives the film a TV Movie feel that perhaps better direction could have avoided.
Saying that, this film is definately worth a watch if you are a movie buff who likes to watch every film made. If not films such as Donnie Darko have the same dark feel but are better films. -
Most recent members' review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Stylish Film Noir - Suffers from Low Budget
Steve Martin's character in Novocaine has a good life. A successful dentist, he is engaged to wed his stunning helper. However, things start to go wrong when he falls in love with a patient and his life begins to spin out of control.
Set in present day LA this thiller-cum-noir-cum-comedy aims to confuse and entertain the watcher. The twists and turns of the plot work well as we see Steve Martin's character being set up for murder.
The films low point comes at the end where the imagination of the film maker seems to run out. Also the lack of budget gives the film a TV Movie feel that perhaps better direction could have avoided.
Saying that, this film is definately worth a watch if you are a movie buff who likes to watch every film made. If not films such as Donnie Darko have the same dark feel but are better films. -
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