
THIS WORLD, THEN THE FIREWORKS
Well, I think I see what attracted Billy Zane to this film that he co-executive
produced. It had the appeal of a 1950's private eye classic. Unfortunately, it
doesn't have the characters fit to match it. The Philip Marlowe types had
some morals, as I recall, Zane's character has none.
Here he plays a newspaper reporter with an attitude who engages in an
incestuous relationship with his sister Carol (Gina Gershon) who's
a hooker. Rue McClanahan plays their unhappy mother. Gershon is quite good
and the part seems tailor-made for Zane who certainly has the look. The story
revolves around Marty Lakewood (Zane) who tries to scam kinky cop Lois Archer (Sheryl Lee) into
"selling" her beach house from under her own brother and making off with the profits
for himself and Carol. Archer the cop (why cop?, who knows?) is a sex-starved masochistic
lunatic and Marty is the sadist who gratifies her. When he isn't doing that, he's playing
nice to sister Carol or spewing biblical crapolo to people who piss him off.
The story takes place in the 50's replete with requisite "detective" style voice overs throughout.
That and apart from the costuming, it has little in common with the genre. It's a convoluted
tale made mildly interesting by Gershon's looks and performance. The brutality and abuse
by Marty toward Lois and others are a complete turn off because how are you supposed to
root for this immoral creep?
Lotta says it's a kinky sex thriller of sorts; it will hold your interest, but so would
a good book.
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