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Film & TV on DVD - John Doe News & Reviews

Greetings Film Fiends and welcome to John Doe's Film Blog. 30 years of dedicated celluloid obsession has meant that I have seen a few films. Drawing attention to some of the lesser discussed gems that I love. Cult classics, obscure curios and quality genre pictures. This blogs purpose is to translate some of my passion for these films and with luck, inspire you the reader to go check em out.

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Film & TV on DVD - September 2007

Bound (1996) - Trailer Included

September 21st 2007 04:53

Bound

Bound (1996) was the movie that assured the brothers who wrote and directed it - Andy and Larry Wachowski - their next movie; the very ambitious first part of a trilogy called The Matrix. And fair enough, as Bound is a most impressive feature debut (less impressive is their previous screenplay, the awful Assassins).

Bound is a nu-noir, a modern gangster tale, told in tight economical form with lashings of style and wit, and healthy (or unhealthy, depending on how you look at it) splashings of ultra-violence. There’s also some hot and heavy petting between the moll and the femme fatale, which gives Bound a chic lipstick lesbian meets butch dyke edge. Bold, but the brothers pull it off.

Gina Gershon as Corky

Corky (Gina Gershon) is an ex-con hired to work in an apartment as a plumber. She meets Violet (Jennifer Tilly) who lives in a swish pad next door with her mobster boyfriend Caesar (Joe Pantoliano), who launders money for the Mafia. The two women begin a clandestine affair and Violet convinces Corky to help her steal $2,000,000 that Caesar has in custody before he gives it back to Mafia boss Gino Marzone (Richard C. Sarafian).

Jennifer Tilly as Violet

The money was initially stolen and some of Caesar’s nasty colleagues torture the man responsible in Violet’s apartment (which Corky can hear through the plumbing). The two scheming women set Ceaser up, but he reacts unexpectedly and things start to go seriously awry. With Gino and his hotheaded son Jonnie (Christopher Meloni) missing in action, his main hitman Mickey (John P. Ryan) begins to close in on the scene and Violet and Corky must act swiftly.

Bound is a superbly constructed screenplay that slowly tightens the knot and screw in classic Hitchockian tradition, except this is more lurid and nastier than what Hitchcock would’ve produced, although it owes much to the master of suspense in its visual stylistics and plot devices. Even the uber-stylish opening title credit sequence would have made Hitchcock titles regular Saul Bass nod with warm approval.

Joe Pantoliano as Caeser

The movie boasts sensational work from the cast, especially the three leads; Gershon, Tilly and Pantaliano. Gershon delivers arguably her finest performances to date (that and her other leather turn in Prey for Rock & Roll). Tilly, whom normally annoys the pants off of me with her whispery high-pitch, is perfect as the mischievous seductress. Other top notch support comes from Christopher Meloni (TV’s Law & Order: SVU) as obnoxious Jonnie and John Ryan as the unctuous Mickey.

Lemme kiss it better baybee

The movie takes place almost entirely within the two apartments (Violet’s pad and Corky’s flat). There is an early scene establishing Corky’s nonchalant swagger in a dyke bar where she tries to pick up an older, more butch woman played by literary luminary Susie Bright, who also served as “technical consultant” (read: lesbian supervisor), but has a “cop” intervene. Corky then delivers one of the movie’s many memorable lines: “When you get tired of Cagney & Lacey, find me.”

Lipstick and leather, tatts and stilettos

The camerawork in Bound is marvelous. From the opening set-up (you wonder where on earth you are) tracking down through a wardrobe full of plush coats and jackets to the pulling out of a snub-nosed .38 Special in extreme close-up, with a tumbler of whiskey beside it. Also the very conscious decision of using mostly black and white art direction (with red, of course) makes Bound a most artful construction. The image of deep red blood splashing over thick white paint is a powerful piece of dark visual poetry.

Bound is a movie that was aged well, and rewards from repeat viewings. Grab some mates, grab a bottle of smoky whiskey (Glenlivet is the movie’s malty slug), ease back into the sofa, and wrap yourself up in Bound.

Here's the original movie trailer:

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: Crime

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Comments

15 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Louie

September 21st 2007 05:52

Climate Forum
Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips

sex always sells......seems a long way off the Matrix, love hearing of peoples success stories tho.

happy friday

Comment by Bryn

September 21st 2007 05:57

Horrorphile

Hi Louie ... yup. And it sold this one pretty well, although there's a fair dollop of substance to the style in this one too ... lol

Comment by KylieW

September 21st 2007 06:35

Celebrity Obsession

I loved Bound. And you're right, Jennifer Tilly's voice is normally very annoying....but I thought she was perfect for this role.

Also nice that the Wachowski brothers (well they were then) didn't get sidetracked by the lesbian storyline. I thought they really built the tension perfectly. When I first realised where the story was going I'll admit to thinking that they were going to try to gloss over the lack of storyline with a few titillating girl on girl scene's (which lets face it many movie studios would have done!).

Comment by postmoderncritic

September 21st 2007 06:40

Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
Relativity Watch
Padsoc

I haven't seen this movie but I liked your reviewing style, Bryn. Keep up the good work!

Comment by Bryn

September 21st 2007 07:08

Horrorphile

Kylie, yeah, the lesbian tryst was certainly important to the storyline, but they wisely didn't turn it into a Zalman King piece of drivel ... still, the sex scene is pretty darn hot!

post, cheers mate, I'm enjoying writing a few non-horror movie reviews for JD ...

Comment by Damo

September 21st 2007 09:04

For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics

I haven't seen this but it look interesting.
Wachowski Bro are a strange pair.
Some good movies, some excellent.
So far only Ghost Ship really sucks.

Comment by Bryn

September 21st 2007 15:31

Horrorphile

Hey Damo,
This is well worth checking out, right up your alley. It's a lean style with sharp, but not too ostentatious, visual stylings.

Comment by James Rickard

September 21st 2007 22:18

unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish

I saw this the first time on TV--cut up like crazy but it was still a REAL good flick. I agree with the comment about Jennifer Tilly's voice. She was so MADE for this role!

Comment by Ahmed

September 22nd 2007 01:57

Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Cinema Three

Aaaaah, I saw this movie, on youtube. some dedicated fan (read: poor shmuck) had uploaded each individual part.

erm, it was an ok movie, loved the ending 'Caeser, you don't know shit' *bang*, bot besides that it was iffy.

Dunno what I disliked about it, it was just kind of empty.

Comment by D. Armenta

September 22nd 2007 02:12

The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.

Hi Bryn! I'd give this movie a go, always love the film noir. Especially if the director is a disciple of Hitchcock!

Comment by Bryn

September 22nd 2007 03:38

Horrorphile

Ahmed, you'd be the first person I've met who was dubious about the movie ...

Armenta, yeah, definitely Hitchcockian moments ...

Comment by Lilla

September 22nd 2007 03:47

From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop

Okay Bryn,

...here's what happens now with me, after I read about such 'unique' films...

I go away and let all this wonderful information sink in.

Not sure I really like the whole ultra-violence thing, I let fate decide. What that means is that, if I am at the video store and this film title "jumps at me," I'll remember this (excuse me) '...rather excellent review,' and hire it out... but otherwise, it is not ...um... I don't really know what... for me to go and hunt it down.

I hope that makes some sense ... and proof that your eloquence has been most useful.

I am enjoying your reviews...

Lilla ...

Comment by Michaelie

September 22nd 2007 08:47

Flick Wit

Great review, Bryn.

I haven't seen this, but I'm always intrigued by Gina Gershon's mouth! I liked her in Face/Off.

This movie interests me, mostly for Gershon, but I think I have avoided it because of Tilly. She really irritates me in all her mainstream stuff.

Michaelie

Comment by Bryn

September 23rd 2007 01:18

Horrorphile

Lilla, I'm with you. Muchos gracias! There are a couple of scenes of ultra-violence. but hey, one can always cover the eyes (lol) ... It's all in context of course, like Scorsese and Lynch ...

Michaelie, yes, that mouth!!! LOL ... She was good in Face/Off, true. Check out Prey for Rock'n'Roll though.

Comment by JohnDoe

October 3rd 2007 04:31

Film & TV on DVD

Right with you Bryn, (As you know)
Arguably the greatest of all the modern noirs and easily the best film by the Wachowski brothers...Gina is something very special too and Joe steals the show.

[ Previous - At Close Range (1986) - Trailer & Footage Included ]

[ Next - Cinema dreams come true, John Doe lands in L.A. ]

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