D.O.A. (1988)

March 18, 1988 (US) • Mystery, Thriller • 96m

Overview

Dexter Cornell, an English Professor becomes embroiled in a series of murders involving people around him. Dexter has good reason to want to find the murderer but hasn't much time. He finds help and comfort from one of his student, Sydney Fuller.

Directors

Annabel Jankel, Rocky Morton

Writers

Charles Edward Pogue, Russell Rouse, Charles Edward Pogue, Clarence Greene

Top Billed

Dennis Quaid

Keywords

race against time toxication literature professor culprit relationship divorce glue woman director stealing manuscript

Where to watch

Check streaming options on TMDB

Top Billed Cast

Dennis Quaid

Dexter Cornell

Meg Ryan

Sydney Fuller

Charlotte Rampling

Mrs. Fitzwaring

Daniel Stern

Hal Petersham

Jane Kaczmarek

Gail Cornell

Christopher Neame

Bernard

Robin Johnson

Cookie Fitzwaring

Robert Knepper

Nicholas Lang

Jay Patterson

Graham Corey

Brion James

Detective Ulmer

Jack Kehoe

Detective Brockton

Elizabeth Arlen

Elaine Wells

Karen Radcliffe

Jane Corey

William Forward

Chief Resident

Lee Gideon

Mr. Fitzwaring

John Hawkes

Sloane

Michael Stephen Costello

College President

Brent Anderson

Metcalf

Marco Perella

Cab Driver

Gabriel Folse

Frat Jock

Joy Swan

Survey Girl

Crew

Annabel Jankel

Director

Laura Ziskin

Producer

Charles Edward Pogue

Screenplay

Chaz Jankel

Original Music Composer

Raja Gosnell

Editor

Rocky Morton

Director

Ian Sander

Producer

Michael R. Miller

Editor

Ronnie Specter

Makeup Artist

Gary C. Bourgeois

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Randy Fife

Stunt Coordinator

Michael O'Sullivan

Set Decoration

Bridget Bergman

Hairstylist

Martin Maryska

Sound Effects Editor

Ed Callahan

Dialogue Editor

Michael Linn

Music Editor

Cathleen Summers

Co-Producer

Thomas Brandau

Sound Mixer

Russell Rouse

Story

Nancy Cone

Costume Designer

Richard Patrick

Second Assistant Director

John Haeny

Sound Effects Editor

Michael Berenbaum

First Assistant Editor

Lorie O'Shatz

Dialogue Editor

John Morris

Dialogue Editor

Marita Grabiak

Script Supervisor

Rebecca Greeley

Production Coordinator

George Herthel

Production Manager

Doug Lefler

Storyboard Artist

Andrew J. Kuehn

Co-Producer

Chris Carpenter

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Jerry Ross

Supervising Sound Editor

Louis D'Esposito

First Assistant Director

Yvonne Cervantes

Wardrobe Supervisor

Anna Behlmer

Sound Recordist

Wayne Heitman

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Charles Edward Pogue

Story

Clarence Greene

Story

Don Hahn

Score Engineer

Richard Amend

Production Design

Nancy Foy

Casting

Jeanne Van Cott

Production Manager

Yuri Neyman

Director of Photography

Reviews

John Chard

⭐ 6.5/10

September 26, 2014

Who was murdered? He was!

D.O.A. is directed by Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton and adapted to screenplay by Charles Edward Pogue from a story by Russell Rouse and Clarence Greene. It stars Dennis Quaid, Meg Ryan, Daniel Stern, Charlotte Rampling, Jane Kaczmarek and Christopher Neame. Music is by Chaz Jankel and cinematography by Yuri Neyman.

A loose remake of the 1950 film noir of the same name, the story finds Professor Dexter Cornell (Quaid) staggering into a police station proclaiming that he is dying because someone has poisoned him. Told in flashback by Cornell, we see the events that led up to the point he was poisoned, but not who did it, and then track the frantic Professor as he tries to solve the who done it mystery before he keels over and dies.

Not as bad as the poor box office returns suggest it is, D.O.A. is still very much a frustratingly shaky experience. Lifting only the basic idea of the 1950 movie, the makers stamp their own mark on the premise but add too many red herrings to the already fishy stew. Some plot developments are daft, as is the casting of Meg Ryan in the key femme role - seriously she is just too cookie cute and homely for this material - while the motive reveal is a bit much to swallow. Yet there's still a lot to enjoy and sample here for the neo-noir faithful.

Visually the picture is stylish and appreciative to its noir roots. Opening in black and white to set the story in motion, Jankel and Morton then infuse the film with angled shots and frame distortions. Shadows often come into play, with Venetian blinds and roof rafters impacting, while the addition of a spiral staircase late in the day is most pleasing. Quaid is ever watchable in what is a tricky role that calls for him to garner sympathy whilst not being likable! While elsewhere Stern and Rampling provide good characterisations, even if as written the roles are too small given the importance the characters have to the plot shenanigans.

A bit over cooked on the page, and basically a race against time thriller dressed up in neo-noir clothing, D.O.A. is still none the less worthy of a viewing. 6.5/10

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Status

Released

Original Language

Budget

—

Revenue

$12,706,478

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D.O.A. (1988)

Annabel Jankel, Rocky Morton

Charles Edward Pogue, Russell Rouse, Charles Edward Pogue, Clarence Greene

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew

Reviews

John Chard

Recommended Movies

Interstellar

The Shadow's Edge

2012

Back to the Future

Status

Original Language

Budget

Revenue

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