Latest Updates - Bridget Fonda

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Comment by Magic Marmalade:

When you're in a hole... Stop digging.

This particular hole though, is ostensibly the the opposite: finding a huge bag of cash in a downed plane in the woods ought to be a good thing, surely?

... And the hole the three men in this movie begin to dig from this moment on is everything you'd expect; after all, who hasn't imagined this scenario, and further more, thought through the implications and possible bother that comes with it.

And that's the basic plot, and the inevitable story that proceeds from it.

Very simple, very elegant, and brilliantly executed.

Although this premise is perhaps not new, what this movie does excellently is not make it a gangster flick, it action movie, or reservoir dogs style affair... The money is just circumstantial, the real story is centred almost exclusively on the three characters, and how their dynamics shift in relation to each other over time.

And this is why it took me so long to finally see it, as I was under the impression it was more of a cheapo, straight to DVD heist movie, when in fact it's more of a three man stage play character study...

(In fact, there's a very strong influence from: Of mice and men, i detected)

...A very Fargo-ish vibe, albeit played more straight (minus Coens' signature humour), and I know there are many who already appreciate this movie, but I feel this has the potential to undergo the Shawshank effect, and will only become more generally appreciated over time, principally through word of mouth.

Truly brilliant.

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Comment by Magic Marmalade:

Not into "martial arts" movies in general, but this popped into my head again after all these years the other week, and I remembered it being a little better than the standard fare, so ordered a cheapo second hand copy on Amaznonia...

...And in some ways, it still is, but it does have the odd issue on second viewing:

The story of a Cop from China coming to collaborate with the French police in a sting on a Chinese drug lord operating in Paris, only to discover the French head cop and his crew are bent, and looking to take over the operation themselves, leaving a trail of bodies in the process, and our cop: Mr Li, alone, hunted, and fending for himself in the city after they try to pin it all on him, is a great premise for a story, as is the conflict he feels between getting himself out of the situation, and the impulse to help an American woman (Bridget Fonda), trapped in servitude to Tchéky Karyo's menacing (occasionally cartoonish) villain head cop as a prostitute, recover her daughter from him, whom he is using as the leverage to keep Fonda in line.

It is, as it looks and feels, a Luc Besson scripted and produced movie, so has that edge to it, and there are some good fight sequences from peak Jet Li (Who's story idea this is), but without being wholly at the expense of drama, and the story.

The one gripe I really had, is that the look of this film, in how it was shot, is largely dark, dingy, and grimy, which doesn't really help you in seeing what is going on in these action / fight sequences, but a minor quibble.

Burt Kwouk also has a small, but significant role as the owner of a small noodle shop in Paris, who is Li's contact, and gives solid stoic performance.

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Comment by Magic Marmalade:

I think the only way to review this properly is to state the basic premise:

Fish out of water "big city type" doc gets stuck in smalltown USA for life re-evaluation experience...

(Not new, or original, perhaps, but perfectly executed)

....And then, perhaps, offer some words, with which an informative word-cloud can be composed:


Wholesome, warm, charming, fun, funny, sweet, witty, 90s, Michael J. Fox, Chesney Hawkes (You know the one! :), Woody Harrelson, Bridget Fonda, Julie Warner, The dude from M.A.S.H, The grandpa from The Lost Boys, Summer Squash, Car, Fence, Judge, Smalltown, quilt.

...Or just watch it, it's awesome :)

(Having now seen: Local Hero, there are striking similarities in plot - but even that is nothing really new - just great).