I don't review films often, and I'm not really sure why this was a film that suddenly stirred in me the passion to share my viewpoint over the Internet, but here I am, so let's get down to it: This film is actually far more entertaining than I ever expected. I get on little kicks with certain actors and will plunge through their filmography, warts and all. Having seen basically everything left of value in Spader's catalog (Secretary aside), I've now arrived at films similar to this one. Bottom of the barrel would be putting it lightly.
This film is an editor's worst nightmare, though. The flash backs are retreads of footage we've already seen, the only useful one really being towards the end of the film, wrapping up the big twist. There never seems to be any indication of whether we're in the past or the present, for most of the first hour of film, save whether or not David Keith's black eyes are present or not. The very first flashback, a 10-15 minute scene of Spader being picked up in a bar by Stefanson left me completely confused as to why Spader was able to walk around town without anyone batting an eyelash, especially Keith. It was only clear after the segment was over that I was watching a flashback.
The jumps through time continue until about the midpoint of the film, when the focus shifts more to Spader's character on the run from the law. At that point, I found myself far more enveloped in the story, which is actually pretty decent, if not generic. Crooked LA Cops, A young FBI agent on his first gig, crooked small city cops, hard-edged damsel, etc.
If you were to catch this movie on TV, I wouldn't say not to watch it, just prepare yourself for a pretty much skin-deep film. You're not going to have a life altering experience viewing this, but you'll be entertained and sometimes, that's all we really need, right?
This film is an editor's worst nightmare, though. The flash backs are retreads of footage we've already seen, the only useful one really being towards the end of the film, wrapping up the big twist. There never seems to be any indication of whether we're in the past or the present, for most of the first hour of film, save whether or not David Keith's black eyes are present or not. The very first flashback, a 10-15 minute scene of Spader being picked up in a bar by Stefanson left me completely confused as to why Spader was able to walk around town without anyone batting an eyelash, especially Keith. It was only clear after the segment was over that I was watching a flashback.
The jumps through time continue until about the midpoint of the film, when the focus shifts more to Spader's character on the run from the law. At that point, I found myself far more enveloped in the story, which is actually pretty decent, if not generic. Crooked LA Cops, A young FBI agent on his first gig, crooked small city cops, hard-edged damsel, etc.
If you were to catch this movie on TV, I wouldn't say not to watch it, just prepare yourself for a pretty much skin-deep film. You're not going to have a life altering experience viewing this, but you'll be entertained and sometimes, that's all we really need, right?