BOUND

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This is the directorial debut by the Wachowskis, a neo-noir erotic crime thriller.  

According to Wikipedia they took inspiration from Billy Wilder, which led me to think I might be in for a lesbian variation on 'Double Indemnity', but that isn't the case so I guess the Wilder influence is a broader one.   

Never mind, this film is plenty entertaining as long as you don't take it too seriously.

The story centres on three characters - Corky and Violet who fall madly in love with each other (played by Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly respectively), and Violet's Mafia boyfriend Caesar (Joe Pantoliano) who has no inkling as to Violet's real sexuality.  All three give terrific, slightly stylised, performances that are in keeping with the overall tone.

There's a sex scene between Corky and Violet early on which is something special, maybe because feminist writer and sex educator Susie Bright was involved as a consultant.

The film was shot on a low budget and pretty much all of it takes place in two adjacent apartments.  Despite this the film does not look cheap.

The Wachowskis also wrote the screenplay, which includes a plan by Corky and Violet to steal some money that Caesar has in his possession before he hands it over to his boss.  The plot twists first one way, then another, all very satisfying, especially in a delicious scene where Violet really comes into her own, when she rings Caesar from his bathroom at a moment of maximum jeopardy for him. 

All in all, an impressive debut.

RATING: ✓✓ Good Times

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