DEAD SOLID PERFECT
US, 1988, 82 minutes, Colour.
Randy Quaid, Kathryn Harrold, Jack Warden.
Directed by Bobby Roth.
Dead Solid Perfect is a home box-office telemovie. It is a golf story. Randy Quaid gives a strong performance as a self-willed golfer whose life is in a mess. A conman playing for money, he is persuaded to go into tournaments - and progresses to victory. He also has to cope with his womanising, the collapse of his marriage and his rediscovery of the possibility of commitment.
The material is fairly conventional - and the audience knows that the hero will eventually win. He is off-putting at the beginning with his foul mouth and unprincipled behaviour. However, as in so many of these films, he discovers himself and transcends his past. Kathryn Harold is his wife. Jack Warden appears as a bigoted entrepreneur.
1. Interesting sports story? About a sportsman? His crisis?
2. The American backgrounds, the cities, the golf circuit? The affluent world of the professionals? Their backers?
3. The title, the reference to golf games and winning?
4. The portrait of Ken? His friendship with Spec, his training with Spec? The game with Bad Hair? His being found out? Going on the circuit, the dinner with Bad Hair and his family - and their bigotry? His unwillingness to speak out? His relationship with Beverley, love for each other, her not finding the golf circuit possible for her? His ignoring her and her interests? Their separation? His going on his way, his friends amongst the golfing professionals, successful play, Spec helping him, Bad Hair supporting him? His relationship with Janie? Encountering Beverley and her friend at the hotel, the war of words? His being upset in his game by his emotional problems? Beverley's operation, his going to the hospital? Seeing the video of Janie and Donny? His play, erratic, improving, Spec's support, his win? Beverley's presence? The possibility of a new life?
5. Spec, his friendship, support? Ken allowing for the bigotry of the wealthy? Yet Spec being his friend?
6. Beverley, the quality of the marriage, her love for Ken, her difficulty with the golf circuit? Her friends? The bigotry of the dinner and her speaking out? The separation? The doctor friend? Her encounter with Janie and her sarcasm? The operation, the meeting with Ken? Her recovery, present at the golf course?
7. Bad Hair, the initial game, his attitude, his wife? His referring to blacks as ethnics? Anti-Jewish? A caricature of bigotry? His family at the meal? Ken saying that he could not change? Beverley's walking out? Financial investment, supporting Ken?
8. The gold professionals, their skills, the games, competitiveness? Personal relationships?
