KISS SHOT
US, 1989, 88 minutes, Colour.
Whoopi Goldberg, Dennis Franz, Dorian Harewood.
Directed by Jerry London.
Kiss Shot is a pleasant telemovie, a star vehicle for Whoopi Goldberg. Production and direction is by Jerry London, director of many telemovies.
The film is a kind of Rocky for a mother and daughter. The focus is on the playing of pool. There is good support from Dennis Franz as the manager and Dorian Harewood as the attractive rival.
The film has sentiment, a slight edgy comic performance from Whoopi Goldberg - very much toned down from her comedy style. Sentimental and enjoyable.
1. The title, the reference to pool, the particular kind of shot? In the Rocky tradition?
2. California, the ordinary lifestyle, the tough areas and bars, cafes and restaurants, high society, pool competitions? Authentic atmosphere?
3. Audience knowledge of pool as a game, skills, the rules? Men and women playing? A man's game? Competition? Money?
4. Star vehicle for Whoopi Goldberg, her reputation for drama and comedy, her style and strength of performance?
5. Sara and her work, money, getting the sack? Trying to raise the loan? Going back, the cafe, her friendship with the staff and their support? Love for Jenny, wanting to keep the house? Going to visit her parents, her loving mother, her father refusing to see her, his hardness, quoting the Bible about Abraham and Sara, the hard interpretation of the parable of the Prodigal Son? Her mother giving her $80? Her wanting to talk frankly with Jenny - and Jenny understanding everything? The decision about pool, going to Billy, the training games, a bit of money? The game with Rick? Max being impressed and booking her up, taking her to games, the clash with the bikies, the bikie with the knife and Max defending her? The society game, meeting with Kevin and thinking he was the doorman, losing to him? Kevin pursuing her, the hamburger cafe, the date, the flash restaurant? Her love for Kevin, Jenny suspicious? The night with him? Jenny pleading for more time, her staying with her, refusing the big game with Max? Playing Rick and losing all the money? Finding the truth out about Kevin? Going to San Francisco, more composed, playing, winning, going to the bank -and the happy ending with Jenny and Kevin?
6. Jenny as an attractive teenager, love for her mother, the visit to her grandparents, supporting her mother, lonely because of all the games, making demands on her, disliking Kevin, the outings with him? Liking Max? Kevin telling her the truth, her telling her mother, the reconciliation, the finale?
7. Billy and his help, the various players, the lumberjacks, the bikies, high society?
8. Max as manager, with Rick, shrewd, taking up Sara, arranging the games, rescuing her from the bikies with the pool cue, society and his anger at her losing, talking to her about dates, with Kevin? Offering her the big game, the game with Rick? Taking her to San Francisco, friendliness with Jenny?
9. Revin and his wealth, the party, the games, pursuing Sara, her urging him to be serious, finding where she worked, the date in the restaurant, Las Vegas, the girl in his house, the apology and the explanation to Jenny, talking about responsibility, Sara challenging him to the game, her winning, the happy ending?
10. The sketch of Sara's parents, a loving mother supporting her husband, the father and his refusal to see her, quoting Scripture?
11. A popular telemovie for the wide audience? Portrait of people? Enterprise and challenge? Using talents?
