Caught this on TV the other night and it's strangely entertaining. It's not a bad movie, but it's not a great one either. Hard to put a finger on why it doesn't really hit the spot.
The basic film noir story, Art Deco sets and costumes are the best things about it, and worth watching for that alone if your an Art deco/ film noir fan.
I disagree with other comments about the "poor quality lighting". It's suppossed to look like that, that's the look they were after and they got it perfect. It looks lush and gorgeous. As I said, if you're a fan of the style you'll get it.
As for the acting, apart from Lynne Renee who out acts everyone, it's pretty ordinary.
Billy Zane sleepwalks thru the entire movie.Normally I like Billy Zane but he looked bored out of his skull the entire time. (Maybe he was.) And that's what ruins the film. You don't care for him, there's no tension or emotional involvement in the lead character.
(Hey Billy, you can't just stand there and look pretty, you're old, grey and fat now. You have to at least act.) A better actor would have made it a much better film.
The other characters are caricatures of the times, classic film noir stereotypes. But again the costumes and styles from the times at least make them look great.
Lynne Renee is the only redeeming actor in the film and is perfect as the endlessly seemingly duplicitous femme fatale.
The plot is the typical convoluted noir fare with endless twists and double crosses. So many infact that everything needs to be constantly explained by Zane's droning voice over and numerous flashbacks at the end. And even then it's still confusing.
So high marks for style and art direction, let down by average acting.
