Too much of everything

Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

'Trouble in mind' is set in a mildly dystopian city named Rain City (Seattle) and has fairly colorful characters all over the place. Kristofferson sometimes looks like a skinny Orson Welles (big hat, big coat), Carradine slowly turns into a Brian Setzer on acid, and then there's more regular looking people as well as plenty of weirdos. For some time I was wondering where things were going; noticing some illogical acts of the characters, and Hawk was even a downright sickening character at moments (the rape of Wanda), even if there's a struggle inside him that lies at the core of his behaviour.Somehow it was doable, but then the movie shifts into a higher gear, with some bloody violence, a thoroughly absurd shoot-out (wonderful stuff!) and just the right accents in the final outcome (Hawk saves the day, but still leaves and Coop learns his lesson, but joins the army). Those were just the kind of things I wasn't expecting, but felt very much in order.The drama in 'Trouble in mind' does not feel very sincere, but it has its place within this tongue-in-cheek, kitschy atmosphere (saxophone - check). It's some sort of understated superhero sci-fi flick (with love story) that seems to reflect on the '80s taking over the '70s. Or something like that - watchemecallit.A good 7 out of 10.

Trouble in Mind is a masterpiece from Alan Rudolph - the most underrated movie director of USA. It's a great analysis of the amoral society where everyone is ready to sell a soul for his, his friend's or at least for his child's future. In the game of life only the ones wise enough to play with small bets survive.80's were an afterglow of the 70's criticism against the weak but high developed systems. Although films like "To live and to die in L.A" got the most attention in this area, Trouble in Mind won't have to be ashamed no bit.

I have a strong feeling that writer/director Alan Rudolf really enjoyed BLADERUNNER, and longed to create a BLADERUNNERish film of his own. As such, TROUBLE IN MIND has much in common with the former film - a dark, sad view of the future, a Vangelis-like instrumental score. Unfortunately, where it departs from BLADERUNNER most noticeably is in the area of and talent and budget. Bujold, Kristofferson and Singer are about as exciting as bran flakes. Carradine's hair is rather dull to begin with, but develops unusual colour and a neat curl towards the end of the film (which comes none to soon). Divine offers the only performance of note, but it is far too brief. Obviously this film experienced a great deal tightness in the budget department. The future appears to be Seattle on an overcast day, with a handful of classic cars and one army jeep cruising the streets. A vague vision of the future, coupled with an aimless script, makes TROUBLE IN MIND a not so great movie to see. A better bet would be to rent the directors cut of BLADERUNNER.

"Trouble in Mind" is a moody and decidedly different film. Take your pick as to whether it's set in an alternate reality or a retro-future. Either way, the inhabitants of Rain City are drifters and lost people whose lives collide as they go on to whatever fate awaits them. Divine makes a surprisingly good bad guy, while Kristofferson is a little wooden but still fits the part. Worth seeing.