Comedy of hmmam failings

Press, 1 February 1988, Page 5

Comedy of hmmam failings

at the cinema

hans petrovic

‘TIN MEN’ Directed and written by Barry Levinson In the comedy 'of human failings, “Tin Men” (Metro), the writerdirector, Barry Levinson, shows again that he has his ears finely tuned to the every-day patter and concerns of the American common man. In his debut film, “Diner,” he took us back to his teen-age years in blue-collar Detroit in the 19505. In “Tin Men,” Levinson visits the same city again, and even the same restaurant. Only this time, he focuses on the men who used to frequent the other end of the diner — a group of fast-talking salesmen who would use any trick they could to unload their merchandise on unsuspecting customers.

“Never give a sucker

an even break” was a favourite saying of that immortal con-man, W. C. Fields, and 20 years later the “Tin Men” of the Baltimore of 1963 followed the same timetested motto.

Tin Men, as they are known in their trade, live and breathe aluminium siding. To them, it is not just a job, but a way of life. Flogging this product is an art that only a select few have . perfected, requiring tremendous cunning and quick wit. Holding their heads up in earnest respectability while earning money for their families, whom they hardly ever see, also requires great powers in the art of rationalisation. Two such men are Tilley (Danny de Vito) and 8.8. (Richard Dreyfuss), whose outrageous personal feud, following a

minor car collision, takes on epic proportions. Tilley is striving to be the best in his chosen field and knows- every trick in the book. However, his luck has been on a downhill swing and meeting 8.8. has only added to his problems. 8.8. is a natural, shrewd salesman — one of the best — and he has a realistic eye not only on the future, but also Tilley’s wife, Nora (Barbara Hershey). Nora is an unassuming

romantic who is tired of Tilley’s irresponsible lifestyle. She wants more out of life, and perhaps 8.8. can offer' it to her. Little does she know that 8.8.’s advances are aimed to revenge Tilley’s attack on 8.8.’s baby-blue Cadillac. As the story progresses, we are introduced to colourful characters in this select world of small-time hustlers, whose conversations run the gamut from the best way to sell, to discovering God, to an analysis of “Bonanza.” To set the period, background tunes are provided by Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Johhny Mathis

and Richie Valens with his version of “La Bamba.” Somehow, these seedy salesmen can also afford to drive long-finned Cadillacs, in which they cruise while hunting their prey.

The entire cast is superb in this low-key comedy, which remains funny as long as those human failings do not hit too close to home.

De Vito is bubbling over with his inimitable form of Italian chutzpah; Dreyfuss is cold and calculating with his Jewish charm; and Hershey is a perfect foil to their selfdestructive games. “Tin Men” is only a small film, but it will be remembered for its very human collection of cheap chisellers, who set out to beat the world, but only hurt themselves in the long run.