A bit of a windy path to get where this movie was going but it had alot of suspense, action and at times, horror! Woody Harrelson and Gina Gershon shined in this!
Movie Reviews
Great Semi-Noir Mystery-Comedy that is truly entertaining !!
The Jaundiced Eye | Texas, USA | 09/18/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Much has been said about how German director, Volker Schlondorff with the able assistance of American screenwriter E. Max Frye, infused this rather conventional plot with some wonderful, completely original elements. My personal favorites are:
1) Woody Harrelson portrays (quite well) a "normal", fallible person, Harry Barber (even his name is conflicted and clever), in a completely abnormal (but admittedly self-inflicted) situation. He is often clumsy in his attempts to be cool....he cannot resist seductive women or easy money....and he ends up a comic loser (again and again), rather than emerging as the traditional stoic, humorless hero/victim. Harry can't resist Elizabeth's charms (or tongue) even while suspended over a vat of acid, seconds from a hideous death, while his girlfriend (played by Gina Gershon) is nearby and watching!!! Indeed, he is an anti-hero with whom virtually anyone in the audience can relate....his antics are human, believable, and at times hilarious.
2) Elizabeth Shue, in addition to being one of the sexiest, nastiest women on God's earth, is also a superb comic actress, in the Carole Lombard tradition. Her flights of fancy, wierd expressions, and overall daffiness are a great change of pace. Compare her to Kathleen Turner in "Body Heat" and see who portrays a more interesting character....Kathleen is cold and infallible, while you never know what to expect next from Elizabeth. Watch her expressions and behavior closely in the last scene in which she appears....what is she thinking??? I personally find this complexity much more entertaining...and plausible. And let's face it, anyone involved in a sinister plot such as this would have to be at least half insane.
I strongly recommend this movie to all mature viewers who appreciate a change of pace from the traditional "film noir"....it is extremely original, fiendishly clever, funny as heck, and thoroughly entertaining."
How could you not like this movie
Umberto Guiermo | Miami, Florida | 01/31/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is one of the most fun movies I have ever seen. It has everything I need. Heat, murder, comedy, and there is an element of fantasy that makes me want to see this movie when I want to escape. Buy It!!!Make more movies like this one Hollywood. And make more in Florida. It's just better that California."
Absolutely brilliant. How about a Special Edition?
Barry | 06/13/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I own this masterful thriller and absolutely covet it. Probably my all time favorite thriller/film noir. A perfect example of steamy, teasing, dark femme fatale film noir classic. Excellent script, direction and acting. Some people who say the film is "too over-the-top" are missing the point and don't realize it's that way on purpose. That's the whole film noir/femme fatale genre, folks. Roll with it. Get caught up in the fake kidnapping scheme and the surprise twists and it's a roller coaster ride! I love it and will always love it. One question: WHEN is the Special Edition gonna come out, with Director's and Actors' Commentary, Behind-The-Scenes (I BEG YOU) and many other features? A film this great deserves a Special Edition DVD. People at Castle Rock: PLEASE issue another DVD version."
Underrated film-noir with good actors and quite good story.
Calle | 12/18/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I think this movie is quite underrated. It's not that bad. I have only seen one of Schlöndorff's other movies, The Ogre, which is very differnt from this one. The actors are good, especially Gina Gershon, Woody Harrelson, Elisabeth Shue and the fantastic Chloë Sevigny, and the story is quite good with some unexpected turns. The movie is, in some outdoor-scenes, also very beautiful, with the clouds, beach and sea at night. Harry (Harrelson) narrates the movie, like in many film-noirs, but the voice-overs are so few that when they come, it's a bit annoying."
My Favorite Movie of All Time
John Thompson | Los Angeles, California | 01/09/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In my opinion if your gonna buy a DVD you want it to stand the test of time. And after numerous viewings, this film just gets better. There are so many suttle dashes of greatness that this movie made me a fan of Woody, Chloe, and director Volker Schlondorff forever. This film envelopes you and you get so involved that you swear your in the Humid, Tropical, Sexyness that is Palmetto."