Synopsis
Ex-Lance Corporal Goerge Moran (Peter Weller) has a fairly comfortable life, if you leaveaside his disturbing dreams of his part in the military intervention in the Dominican Republic in1965. He has a slightly run-down beachfront hotel, and he takes it easy. His past won’t leave himalone, however. Not only does he make a return trip to the Dominican Republic, he renews hisrelationship with Kelly McGillis, wife of a former Dominian strongman. This brutal character isa…so very rich, and amoral freelancer Charles Durning, who has his eye on the money, embroilsWeller and McGillis in his scheme. We are in recognizable Leonard territory with quirkycharacters and zinger dialogue, and the film is a solid, fun thriller. This is also one of directorAbel (Ms. 45, Bad Lieutenant) Ferrara’s most accessible, upbeat films. The usualmusings on damnation and redemption are still present, but to a much lesser degree thanusual.
Audio
“Dolby Stereo Surround” boasts the case. My foot. The sound may be 2-channel, but itdoesn’t have the faintest trace of surround. This is too bad, since the score has a great, funky vibeto it. Disappointment aside, the sound is still clean and clear enough. Some of the dialogue ishard to make out, however, and there are no subtitles.
Video
Pretty mediocre picture too. In the first place, the aspect ratio is fullscreen (though thecompositions aren’t too badly damaged). Shimmering colours create a distracting spectrum oversome surfaces and many edges. There is grain, there are speckles, the blacks aren’t always asdeep as they should be, and the picture is a bit soft. The flesh tones and the colours are okay.
Special Features
None.
Closing Thoughts
A solidly entertaning film, one that deserved much better treatment than this.
