DVD Nothing seems to be going right. For Becky it is waking up next to her murdered ex-husband, for Teddy it is a failed film career, for Allan it is being kidnapped by a hit man, for Lee it is losing control of the job, and for vice cops Wes and Alvin it is just another day in the valley - until a murder brings them all together.
Details
Late one night Becky argues with her ex-husband Roy before they both fall asleep. Unbeknown to them, hit men Lee and Dosmo have been listening. They enter the house, sedate Becky and execute Roy in what should have been a straightforward contract killing. Instead, it triggers a chain of events that rapidly spirals out of control.
Becky has orchestrated the murder herself, intending to split the proceeds with Lee and Helga. Unfortunately for Dosmo, he has merely been brought along to take the blame. When Lee attempts to remove him from the equation, Dosmo survives and crashes into the back garden of Allan, an art dealer recovering from kidney stones. Taking Allan and his weary assistant Susan hostage, Dosmo begins planning revenge - though his tough exterior quickly softens as he finds himself drawn to Susan.
Meanwhile, Becky flees into the street where she encounters vice cops Wes and Alvin. Wes, eager to make a name for himself in homicide, becomes increasingly entangled in the unfolding mess. Add to this Teddy, a struggling filmmaker contemplating suicide, and Audrey, Allan's sister, and the result is a tightly woven web of intersecting lives that collide over the course of two chaotic days.
Picture & Sound
The anamorphic transfer is sharp and colourful, capturing the harsh glare and baked tones of the Californian valley convincingly. Detail levels are strong throughout, particularly in the bright exterior scenes.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is well balanced. Dialogue is clean and firmly anchored in the centre channel, while the music-driven sequences make effective use of the front soundstage. Surround activity is modest for much of the running time but becomes more noticeable during moments of tension - and especially during the memorable confrontation between Becky and Helga.
Overall
There is an undeniable Pulp Fiction influence at work here, from the intersecting storylines to the morally ambiguous characters and bursts of dark humour. However, this film carves out its own identity through its sardonic tone and character-driven focus.
James Spader is superb as the calculating and ice-cold Lee, delivering one of the film's most controlled performances. In contrast, Danny Aiello steals many scenes as Dosmo, the supposedly hardened hit man whose unexpected sensitivity provides much of the film's humour. Their dynamic gives the film much of its bite.
There are numerous twists and reversals - too many to detail without spoiling the experience - and the explosive Becky versus Helga showdown is both entertaining and pivotal. Smart, stylish and consistently engaging, this is a sharp ensemble crime piece that rewards attention. Highly recommended.
Special features
- Theatrical Trailer
- Cast Biography
