DOLAN'S CADILLAC (2009)

[indianasmith]

I had not even heard that this Stephen King short story had been marked for a movie, much less that it was finished.  I spotted it on the shelf at Hasting's this week and knew that I would have to give it a viewing.  I was a bit hesitant at first, because King adaptations have ranged in quality from the very effective (FIRESTARTER and THE GREEN MILE) to the abysmal (CHILDREN OF THE CORN, LAWNMOWER MAN).  The fact that I had never heard of this one increased my skepticism as to its quality.

But I was pleasantly surprised.  Christian Slater was brilliant as Jimmy Dolan, a major player in the sex slave trade, who is spotted in the act of killing two drivers who botched a delivery of girls by a young schoolteacher named Elizabeth.  She agrees to testify against Dolan over the objections of her husband David Robinson, who fears for her safety.  His fears are justified when her car is rigged with explosives and she dies in a fiery blast while in the protective custody of the FBI.

Now sick with grief and with his life spiralling out of control, Robinson must avenge his loss.  But how can a mild-mannered 6th grade teacher who has never harmed another human being bring down a slick, well-protected, and deadly mob boss to whom violence is second nature?  And how will working on the state road crew tearing up a stretch of Highway 71 further his purposes?

Those of you who have read the story will (I think) be impressed by how little it has been tampered with.  It was fleshed out just enough to stretch the length to 89 minutes, but none of the essential details have been screwed up.  If you've never read the story, I think you will enjoy this dark and gritty revenge flick for its own virtues.

[jimmybob]

Watched the first hour but it depressed me too much. It didn't seem to be going anywhere either.

What does the guy do after he buys the gun?

-Jimmybob

[indianasmith]

Realizes that he can't shoot, and that he'll never get Dolan that way.

So he begins to work on a trap.

[3mnkids]

I watched this awhile back, seems like a really long time ago even though it came out last year? anyway, I liked how he thought out what he was going to do and its definitely a different way to get revenge. That being said, Slater isn't really convincing as a bad guy. Maybe because I watch so many gangster type movies and he just isnt... gangster.      Its worth a watch though.