Really Surprised!

Powerful

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

This movie was a decent Saturday night TV past time. It is professionally done, to the point that one can get yawns. Sure, it seems that is it. But if you have a decent sense of time, you know there are more than 30 minutes to burn so there has to be a twist. And another. They writers are so professional there is no twist at all, only Hollywood scripting by the book. And they were right not to make it with a man - woman couple, or by now nobody would have watched it.So it is nicely done. But it is slow. And it hasn't aged well. Twenty years later and it is as slow, old fashioned and boring as the other film noir the writers were glorifying with this script.Than there are the sloppy details. An Armenian don talking in European Italian? But, in the end this is not art and there is no message in sight. The writers are good. And they are in the business of making money. And let's face it: if it wasn't for the cult status I wouldn't have seen it. The same as with the Matrix: back in the day there weren't the Marvel - Disney movies. I went for the special effects and I was pleased.Contact me with Questions, Comments or Suggestions ryitfork @ bitmail.ch

Before the Wachowskis rocketed into the stratosphere of cinema with their big budget world building and brilliant, lofty ideas, they made Bound, a down n' dirty, kinky little slice of mob pulp that's as much fun as it is sexy, potent and dangerous. Gina Gershon plays Corky, a hard nosed opportunist with a keen eye for making money and a fondness for beautiful women. Jennifer Tilly is Violet, the bored wife of weaselly gangster Ceasar (a lively Joe Pantoliano), who has just come into a whole wacky of shady cash via his employer Mickey, played by one of the great character actors of his generation, John P. Ryan, who is sadly no longer with us. Ceasar has been given the money to launder, but Violet has other plans that involve double crossing him and making off with it. When she happens to wander into the gay bar that Corky frequents, sparks fly. And I really mean it, for soon enough the two are in bed together for one of the single most hot and heavy sex scenes you will ever see in a film. Seriously, you'll want to open some windows for this baby. As soon as Corky gets wind of the money, the plot simmers as everyone makes a discreet mad dash for riches and no one is sure who is screwing over who. Gershon is tough, sexy as hell and leaves a faint trace of vulnerability in her excellent performance. Tilly is crafty and secretive, deliberately making people underestimate her until it's too late. This was Ryan's last film role, and he makes the most of it as a salty old thug with a dash of class, a touch of kindness and the unnerving tendency to snap at the drop of a hat. Christopher Meloni is hilariously pathetic as his second in command who irritates everyone around him, especially Ceasar, who has a scary little temper of his own. One senses real danger for our two female leads, because despite the somewhat playful and often satirical tone towards tell gangsters, the Wachowskis have still fashioned them to be formidable and cruel, a wise tonal choice that grounds the viewer and distills genuine suspense. The characters are all brilliantly written and realized, so if you read this review thinking this was a trashy little lowbrow affair, it's not. It's It's a real world tale that just so happens to take place in a lurid part of movie town, and contains one scorcher of a lesbian love affair that is as affecting in dialogue and body language as it is with sex. A special film, and not one to be missed.e

Corky (Gina Gershon), a tough female ex con and her lover Violet (Jennifer Tilly) concoct a scheme to steal millions of stashed mob money and pin the blame on Violet's crooked boyfriend Caeser (Joe Pantoliano).For the first half hour, I was not at all convinced this was the great film some make it out to be. Although I really liked the aesthetic, the focus on the romance was not really necessary and almost seemed exploitative. (And not because it was a lesbian romance; most love scenes in movies are gratuitous.) But once it got going, wow, what a brilliant game of double cross, and yet tightly scripted. Not too many characters, very few sets (almost completely within one apartment), and some great, nasty characters. This was like a nihilistic stage play come to life.

While the lesbian coupling in this film is a plot point, it's actually not the main hook. It's merely one thing that this interesting and enjoyable crime film does a little bit differently. The story, as concocted by "Matrix" series creators / siblings Andy and Lana Wachowski, is very nicely directed, with a twist-laden plot that keeps the viewer riveted. The acting is excellent from our three leads, and the supporting cast is equally fine. As the situation in "Bound" snowballs out of control, you are made to wonder how the characters are going to think their way out of predicaments. Sometimes they might be saved by a deus ex machina, sometimes they're on their own.Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon burn up the screen as Violet, the moll of money launderer Caesar (Joe Pantoliano), and Corky, an ex-con turned handywoman. Violet is instantly attracted to Corky and turns up the heat, inspiring the other woman to join her in a plot to pilfer over two million dollars in mob money and to try to pin the whole thing on Caesar. Predictably enough, things don't go quite the way they planned.The Wachowskis do know how to hold your attention. They do go out of their way to emphasize the sexiness of the two leading ladies, especially in a steamy apartment tryst. Lesbian erotica writer Susie Bright served as the technical consultant, and also has a cameo in a bar scene. The story is actually pretty entertaining once it takes off. The tension is undeniable from scene to scene, and we have to marvel at the resiliency and resourcefulness of not just Violet and Corky, but Caesar as well. (He's not a totally unsympathetic person.) Joey Pants is absolutely terrific in the role of Caesar, and John P. Ryan, future TV star Christopher Meloni, and film director Richard C. Sarafian ("Vanishing Point") round out a solid cast. "Bound" is pretty serious, but not without humour, and the Wachowskis bring some of that style that they made popular in the "Matrix" series to this enticing diversion.Well worth seeing.Seven out of 10.