DVD Review:
Bound
Written by: Kage
Alan
Film Rating:
B+
DVD Special Features: B+
"Isn't it obvious? I'm trying to
seduce you." Violet (Jennifer Tilly)
If there's ever been a gutsy disciplinarian with attitude who you do
NOT want
to cross, it's (oh, let's call her) Miss Kim. She puts the
tempt in
temptress, the oh in oh la la, the color in colorful and recently put
a copy
of "Bound" in my hand with a request to review it. One
just does not turn
down a request from Miss Kim lest they be secured in a headlock and
dragged
around the office begging for mercy. So, with no further
ado, let's get to
the good stuff!
Corky (Gina Gershon, "Snoops") just recently got out of
prison for having
redistributed some wealth (aka she's a thief) and has gotten her first
job in
a large condo building doing some work for a man who is out of town. On
her
very first day in the elevator, she meets Violet (Jennifer Tilly,
"Bride Of
Chucky") and her mob boyfriend Ceasar (Joe Pantoliano,
"Memento"). The
sexual tension is so thick that's I'm surprised clothes weren't flying
right
then and there. Well, the tension between Corky and Violet,
not Violet and
Caesar.
After some major flirtation over coffee and Corky getting called over
to
retrieve an earring for Violet, they discover they can't fight their
feelings
and engage in some hot lovin'! It pretty much goes without
saying that the
Unrated version of this film contains more explicit scenes than in the
original release, but that's the way to watch this. Ceasar
doesn't catch on
to what's happening because he's got his own problems. Someone
in the
organization has been taking some money off the top and storing it
away. Not
only does he have to persuade the traitor to tell him where the money
is, but
he has to put up with the boss' arrogant son, Johnnie (Christopher
Meloni,
"Oz").
Adding to Ceasar's ever growing list of troubles is the sudden
interest Corky
and Violet have taken in the money waiting to be picked up by the mob
boss.
It's sitting in Ceasar's study and just ripe for the stealing, only
they'll
need a plan. They've got one, but can they trust each other
enough to carry
it out without one screwing over the other? That's only
part of the tension
this intense thriller provides and it's fantastic to finally see the
women
going to such extremes to take the upper hand. Not only
does "Bound" offer
style, substance and a solid script, but it also has excellent
performances
to boot.
Republic Pictures has given us a topnotch Widescreen transfer that
allows us
to see everything on the screen despite how dark many of the shots
are. The
Dolby Digital audio sounds quite good, though you won't get much from
the
surround speakers. Aside from the film trailer, the only
other extra is an
audio commentary from Writers/Directors Andy and Larry Wachowski
("The
Matrix"), Technical Advisor and actor Susie Bright and actor Joe
Pantoliano.
Much of the conversation revolves around the sexual tension and sex
sequences between Corky and Violet as well as what had to be edited
out, what was improvised and how the film tried to stay true to the
lesbian community in the depictions of the characters.
This isn't to say that "Bound" is a gay film by any means. Anybody
who
enjoys thrillers or wants to see a different version of what a
"chick flick"
might be will enjoy this. I don't think I've met a guy yet
who doesn't go
around imitating Jennifer Tilly's lines and a friend of my other half
(oh,
let's call him Randy) can coo "oooh, Corky" just like the
actress herself. I
thoroughly enjoyed this and, fortunately, in doing so have escaped a
stranglehold from Miss Kim. A big thank you to her for
loaning this to me.
Kage holds degrees in Creative Writing, as well as Film & Video. He has been
featured in a Life Journey Tele-Course, published poems in several national anthologies,
been a contributor to The Third Coast Magazine and written several novels. kage@modamag.com
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