My Favourite Movies: Bound

I can’t remember why exactly I picked up this DVD of this 1996 Film Noir. It certainly wasn’t because it was directed and written by the Wacowski brothers who went on to make The Matrix as it was only years later that I learnt of the connection. I suspect that I picked it up because of the two female leads – Gina Gershon who plays Corky a recent ex-con and Jennifer Tilly who plays Violet a gangsters ‘moll’. The fact that I knew these characters became lovers added a certain allure no doubt but I found, much to my enhanced pleasure, that this movie was much more than simply lesbian soft porn (I can see my Blog hit counter react positively to that particular phrase!).

Anyway, I mentioned that Bound is Film Noir which it most definitely is. The story basically goes like this: Violet (Tilly) is tired of being Caesar’s girlfriend and wants out. But you don’t just leave a man like Caesar (played superbly by Joe Pantoliano). After all he’s a gangster who’s more that a little crazy with connections to ‘the business’ as the Mafia like to be called apparently. But an opportunity presents itself when a local accountant is caught skimming money off the top – to the tune of $2 million. When Caesar has to literally launder the proceeds Corky and Violet – who are now lovers – hatch a plan to take the money and force Caesar to run for his life. The plan sounds perfect until Caesar decides to stay and fight rather than skip town.

Like all good Noir movies this has a seemingly simple plot, a straight forward theft and a meticulous plan that goes wrong due to unforeseen events and quickly spirals out of control followed by gun play and death. But what made this movie stand out from the crowd – indeed head and shoulders above the crowd – was the solid acting all round (even when playing arguably stereotypical gangsters it was done well), the intricate yet entirely plausible plot, the cinematography (typically I enjoyed the way this movie was filmed as much as the content of the film itself), the claustrophobic feel to the whole thing (with lots of close ups and clever filming in fairly roomy apartments) and even the atmospheric music which was nicely understated. Inevitably I did have a few issues with one scene in particular – although the scene was nicely tense and was used to great effect, not least of which was to move the plot forward, it blatantly ignored the sense of smell which would have ruined the whole thing (you’ll understand if/when you see the film).

But apart from the usual minor quibbles (I’m difficult to please and know it) this is a great work of Noir that would mark the Wacowski brothers as directors/writers of note even if they had never created the seminal Matrix Trilogy. If you haven’t seen this and love movies (especially crime movies) you’re missing out on a great treat. But be warned, there are several decidedly erotic sex scenes early one, several heavy duty bits of violence (including torture) and practically constant swearing from several of the main players. Definitely not one for the sensitive or easily offended – luckily I am neither.