I've always admired Christopher Walken's work. It hardly matters what he does. But here, he got away from me after the first few minutes, bouncing around in black silk capes, flapping blankets, puffing a monster cigar, wearing a wig that causes him to resembles maybe Mick Jagger circa 1980. It's a positive embarrassment.
The rest of the performers aren't any better, and Steven Bauer is considerably worse, reenacting his Cuban character from "Scarface." Anne Heche and Joan Chen have a delicate love scene, the film's only redeeming feature. It's nice, seeing two beautiful women making love, especially knowing that at least one of them isn't entirely straight.
The main plot, such as it is, has to do with Anne Heche being blackmailed into being a stooge for the LAPD. On her first encounter with an officer, he rapes her. Everybody's rotten and corrupt. I'm not arguing that this position isn't realistic, just that it's a little depressing.
The story takes too long to develop and the actors don't quite put over the character touches. Allen Garfield, absent too long from the screen, acts like a moron and is unnecessary. It would have been better if, the moment the two young ladies realized they were in love, they'd gotten on an airplane with all the money they had at hand and flown to Guadalajara. They -- and the audience -- would have been spared the pain that came later.
The rest of the performers aren't any better, and Steven Bauer is considerably worse, reenacting his Cuban character from "Scarface." Anne Heche and Joan Chen have a delicate love scene, the film's only redeeming feature. It's nice, seeing two beautiful women making love, especially knowing that at least one of them isn't entirely straight.
The main plot, such as it is, has to do with Anne Heche being blackmailed into being a stooge for the LAPD. On her first encounter with an officer, he rapes her. Everybody's rotten and corrupt. I'm not arguing that this position isn't realistic, just that it's a little depressing.
The story takes too long to develop and the actors don't quite put over the character touches. Allen Garfield, absent too long from the screen, acts like a moron and is unnecessary. It would have been better if, the moment the two young ladies realized they were in love, they'd gotten on an airplane with all the money they had at hand and flown to Guadalajara. They -- and the audience -- would have been spared the pain that came later.