“Now I’m gonna ask you ten times, Shelly. Ten times!”

Justin’s rating: My feelings on this are… tied?

Justin’s review: Maybe you heard of a little science fiction film that came out in 1999 that had everyone in the known universe all a-titter about its special effects, wicked action, and intelligent plot. (If you’re thinking aboot a movie starring various CGI morons visiting planets that rhyme with “Baboo”, just leave this review right now. Right. Now.) The Matrix, despite the best efforts of Keanu Reeves to act on the level of a rock, was undeniably a fine piece of filmmaking. The director/writers of that movie had one previous effort, a little-known yet critically-acclaimed bit of celluloid called Bound. And that’s the only reason I saw Bound, a film which has changed my life forever.

Okay, I hyperbole a tad. Still, Bound really surprised me as a decent crime thriller. In it, Corky (Gina Gershon) falls in love with Violet (Jennifer Tilly), who happens to be connected with the Mob in all sorts of interesting ways. Soon enough, the duo develops a plan to swindle two million dollars without losing all their digits. It’s a Chasing Amy meets Goodfellas meets The Sting meets Curdled.

Borrowing liberally from all genres, Bound comes up with a mix that’s never really been tried before — and it works pretty well! The sound editing is superb, and even the simple little events happen with visual flair that a phone call or a half dozen bullets entering a human body. It just makes everything, you know, cool.

But all this is cold french fries next to what Bound really promises: taut, unrelenting suspense and action. This is a caper gone terribly wrong, but part of the fun. As their carefully laid-out plan crumbles, we get to watch Corky and Violet try to adapt to the escalating situation. They have Violet’s violent Mob boyfriend Caesar (you’d recognize him as that bad-boy betrayer from The Matrix), a couple of policemen, and a whole lot of Mafia guys with guns.

There’s no way I can relate what goes on in the last hour of this film, but I haven’t been this tense watching a movie since… heck, I don’t know. On the edge of my seat, had to pause the film to pee twice (that’s an anxiety thing, not a weak bladder or anything), and when the movie finished, I let out a breath that I’d been holding since 1975.

Intermission

• Did you notice Night of the Living Dead on the TV?
• Corky has two tattoos: barbed wire and a labrys (double-headed axe)
• Gina Gershon was originally offered the role of Violet.

Groovy Dialogue

Corky: You know what the difference is between you and me, Violet?
Violet: No.
Corky: Me neither.

Violet: You seem uncomfortable. Do I make you nervous, Corky?
Corky: No. [drinks from beer bottle]
Violet: Thirsty, maybe?

Violet: I’m not apologizing for what I did. I’m apologizing for what I didn’t do.

Ceasar: What did she do to you?
Violet: Everything you couldn’t.

Violet: Caesar, I’m leaving.
Ceasar: What? Oh, come on, I didn’t use one of the good towels.

Micky Malnato: Now I’m gonna ask you 10 times, Shelly. 10 times.

If you enjoyed this movie, try:

• The Matrix
• Blood Simple
• Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead