It seems extraordinary that the producer was able to attract these superb actors to this movie - a script that needed to get deeper into the characters than it did and sometimes seemed to avoid evolution. Yet the acting lifted a "woman as victim" melodrama starring Beverly D'Angelo to something more. D'Angelo's ability to convey someone with little self-esteem, her grabbing at something hopeful, her lust, her confusion - were so vividly portrayed. D'Angelo is one of the finest actresses anywhere.
Joanna Cassidy is also a wonderful actress who lends some interest to a standard role. She and D'Angelo look very right together in their respective roles. Cassidy, the self-confident private detective, is tall, lanky and strong-looking - given to wearing jeans. D'Angelo, the lonely obsessive lacking self-esteem, is soft, shorter, voluptuous verging on plump, and wears very feminine clothes except at low ebb when she dons sweats. The viewer is reminded how beautiful both women are - both have stunning eyes.
The director uses food interestingly - when D'Angelo is abstaining from rich foods, she's moving away from Roberts -when indulging, she's in his clutches.
Eric Roberts is quite good as the vulnerable ladies' con man who never means to kill. The screenwriter does a poor job with his character. Each time he appears to suffer remorse, he takes actions that don't bear any relation to the remorse. The script seems to jump about in dealing with him. In fact, the poor treatment of this character is probably the greatest weakness in the movie.
The climax is terribly predictable - which is unfortunate. In its desire to satisfy the audience, it simply serves up the usual dessert.
AS the other person commented, this movie is worth watching for its performances D'Angelo is simply superb, Cassidy somehow makes one interested when she's on the screen, and Roberts is dandy. I'd recommend it.
