Some caper movies build suspense, while others tweak the genre with tongue lancing cheek. But this lesbian caper pic (how's that for a rarefied subgenre?) often pulls off both feats in the same scene, even simultaneously. [04 Oct 1996 Pg.04.D]
A great thriller, forgotten gem and debut of the Wachowskis. It can also be described as film noir love story. It won me over with the story, characters and set up. The movie is about Violet who is the wive of Caesar. Caesar is a higher up ranking Mafia member. Violet is trapped in her life like in a golden cage. Things get interesting when Corky a female ex con is hired in the same apartment building where Violet and Caesar live. There is a strong connection between the two woman. I stop here to avoid spoilers. The story is fascinating, intense and a rememberable roller-coaster ride. I was fully invested into the story and characters. To clarify it is one of a few movies where I stopped breathing because it got intense in a good way. Lets go to the cast aka team. I think this is a strong debut for the Wachowskis who directed the movie and wrote the script. It was clear that they will become big names in the industry. The main cast delivers a great performance. There is Gina Gershon as Corky. She is truly amazing in the role as lesbian femme fatal ex con. Jennifer Tilly as Violet nails the role as near trophy wife in a golden cage. Both have great chemistry together. Joe Pantoliano as Caesar rounds up the main characters. He sells his role as higher ranking Mafia member that is unsatisfied how things run. Other than those I remember John Ryan as Mickey Malone and Christopher Meloni as Johnny Marzzone being really good. In total we good a flawless performance for me and this together with the story made it a great experience. The rest is history as it is one of the highly praised movie that is nearly forgotten. I just watch it in TV even not knowing it was from the Wachowskis. However I recommend this movie for the great story, characters and entertainment. I think it is a hidden gem and round it up to a 10/10 as a 9/10 feels a bit too negative.
Bound. Bound is one of the greatest thrillers ever made. It did really well but not in the box office. I could watch this film a million times and never get tired of it.
The true pleasures of Bound lie in the Wachowskis' inventive updated take on film noir traditions, sensuously realized by cinematographer Bill Pope ("Clueless").
This gets very suspenseful (as well as fairly gruesome) in spots, and if it never adds up to anything profound, it's still a welcome change to have a lesbian couple as the chief identification figures.
Like so many other rob-the-mob movies, the plan seems pretty far-fetched, and the ending isn't much of a surprise. But if you like your films sprinkled liberally with sex, violence and humor, then you're bound to like Bound.
While the women go through a few of the motions, shifting decorously under the sheets and sucking face, there's no lust in their coupling, just choreography and the conceit of two filmmakers with nothing more on their minds than fake dykes and bloodshed.
Overtly provocative and passionate, Bound is an entertaining stand-out to the Wachowski's long career ahead of them. So stylish and thrilling. Oh and Jennifer Tilly gives it the remaining zest we craved for.