Dick Tracy (1990): Warren Beatty, Al Pacino and Madonna

     Any shortcomings Dick Tracy (1990) might have in terms of story line are more than made up for with style. With it's use of bright primary colors, the film is, if nothing else, visually stunning and at some points, beautiful. Snagging an Oscar for the startling transformations brought about through the creative use of make-up, the film truly brings the original cartoon characters to life on the screen. The all-star cast helps as well (Al Pacino, Warren Beatty, Dustin Hoffman, Mandy Patinkin, Paul Sorvino, Dick Van Dyke, Madonna...)

     Dick Tracy is up to his usual routine. Battling bad guys and always perpetually hesitating on popping the question to Tess, he is in a constant dilemma. 

Dick Tracy. 1990: Warren Beatty

     Faint glimpses of a normal life appear and seem plausible when he and Tess half-adopt a guttersnipe kid.

Dick Tracy. 1990: Warren Beatty

      Tess and the kid take a back seat however, when Big Boy Caprice (Al Pacino) eliminates his competition and decides to take the helm of organized crime in the City. Dick Tracy, the consummate Cop, needs to stop him. 

Dick Tracy. 1990: Al Pacino and Madonna

     Tracy must not only take on Big Boy's henchmen... 

Dick Tracy. 1990

     But added tension comes from the advances of Breathless Mahoney (Madonna, in a surprisingly good performance) 

Dick Tracy. 1990: Madonna

     She is night club performer who seems smitten with him, and has knowledge that Dick Tracy believes will put Big Boy behind bars... 

Dick Tracy. 1990: Madonna

     The usual shoot-outs and frame-ups occur as Dick Tracy builds his case and does his damnedest to bring the bad guys down...

Dick Tracy. 1990: Madonna

Body of Evidence (1993): Madonna

     With the popularity of the sex-fueled Noir, Basic Instinct (1992), many film makers were in a rush to create a comparable film and strike while the iron was hot. Pop singer/actress Madonna was in the right place at the right time, and seemed the perfect choice for such a film project: Body of Evidence (1993). She was still receiving praise for her performance in Dick Tracy (1990) a few years prior. She had a marketable, recognizable name. And most importantly, known for her controversial antics, risque music videos, and "Sex" book...  Madonna obviously had no problem with the levels the role required. Nevertheless, the film fared poorly with critics. Body of Evidence has developed a Cult following, however, largely due to Madonna's sex appeal.

     When a rich older man with a heart condition dies during sex, the blame is placed on his young girlfriend Rebecca Carlson (Madonna). She is accused of deliberately causing his death in an effort to collect money from his will... as she is the main beneficiary. Charged with murder, Frank Dulaney (Willem Dafoe) is hired as Rebecca's defense attorney... 

Body of Evidence. 1993: Madonna

     Frank is in awe of Rebecca's beauty... 

Body of Evidence. 1993: Madonna

     her seductive charms... 

Body of Evidence. 1993: Madonna

     and eventually gives in to his urges... 

Body of Evidence. 1993: Madonna

     entering a torrid relationship with his client... 

Body of Evidence. 1993: Madonna

Body of Evidence. 1993: Madonna

     He is falling for her... Is Rebecca innocent? Or is she using Frank as part of a sinister game?

Body of Evidence. 1993: Madonna

Die Another Day (2002): James Bond "007" (Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry and Madonna)

     Directed by Lee Tamahori, Die Another Day (2002) provided a few landmarks in the history of the James Bond franchise: It is the 20th film in the series and coincided with the 40th Anniversary of the first Bond film, Dr. No (1962), and contains numerous references to past films. It is the last film in the original storyline, with the next one, Casino Royale (2006) going in a different direction. And Die Another Day was the last film to star Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, Agent 007. In a fitting, sensuous finale, the enchanting Halle Berry was chosen as the "Bond Girl" for Die Another Day, adding her to the long list of beauties who have provided love for 007. With knock-your-socks-off special effects and more than enough bravado to go around, Die Another Day is a great addition to this illustrious franchise.

     Illegal conflict diamonds are being traded by Colonel Tan-Sun Moon and his assistant, Zao, on a North Korean military base, when James Bond infiltrates the compound. A fight ensues, in which Moon is killed and Zao is disfigured, with diamonds splintering his face. Bond has been betrayed, however, is caught and thrown in jail for 14 months...

Pierce Brosnan: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007

     When he is released, he is quite angry and ready for revenge. He tracks Zao to to a clinic in Cuba, where he is recuperating. While in Cuba, Bond's aggressions are put on hold when he meets Giacinta "Jinx" Johnson (Halle Berry)...

Halle Berry: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007

Halle Berry: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007

Halle Berry and Pierce Brosnan: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007

     But Jinx isn't as nice as she seems...

Halle Berry: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007

Halle Berry: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007

     She has an agenda of her own...

Halle Berry: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007

     and James Bond is only a small part of it...

Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007

     A new, mysterious villain, billionaire Gustav Graves, pops up in Iceland with the same conflict diamonds as before...

: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007

     James Bond tracks him down, and they fence, accompanied by Graves' instructor, Verity (Madonna)...

Madonna and Pierce Brosnan: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007

Madonna and Pierce Brosnan: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007

     There is something odd about Graves, and that's not just because he is building a solar mirror satellite that harnesses the sun's energy to be used as a weapon. He is involved with Zao...

: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007

     Now James Bond and Jinx must work together to stop their evil plan...

: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007

     Before it is too late...

Halle Berry: Die Another Day. James Bond, 007

"Die Another Day"- movie trailer