This Blu-ray release from Olive Films (www.olivefilms.com – www.facebook.com/olivefilms) will be available for purchase on August 28th.
Twenty-plus years ago, a pair of fledgling screenwriters were struggling to get started in Hollywood. They had a hot script in development called Assassins, but still didn’t appear to have the clout to get their own picture made. Finally, the two convinced Dino De Laurentiis to give them $4.5 million to make Bound. The final result earned a fair amount of critical praise (although a few didn’t care for the level of violence onscreen). Still, it took its time to catch on with the general public. Of course, the Wachowskis followed it up with The Matrix (1999), which become a worldwide phenomenon. This week, Olive Signature is releasing Bound on Blu-ray. The movie holds up extremely well, standing as a energetic and entertaining thriller with style to burn.
The plot involves Corky (Gina Gershon), a woman just released from prison and doing plumbing and painting work at an apartment complex. There, she meets Violet (Jennifer Tilly), the moll of a nasty gangster named Caesar (Joe Pantoliano). Corky and Violet are immediately attracted to each other and begin an affair. Violet also confides her desire to run from her partner’s tight grasp. After an accountant is caught stealing over $2 million dollars from the mob, the cash finds itself in Caesar’s hands. In order to fund their escape and new life together, the pair plot an elaborate scheme to steal the money. It involves pitting Caesar against his own organized crime boss Gino Marzonne (Richard C. Sarafian) and his employer’s son Johnnie (Christopher Meloni) and sneak away with the goods during the fracas. Naturally, complications arise and bodies pile up.
The Wachowskis follow the tradition of neo-noir, but present plenty of new tweaks on the formula. Obviously, the sexuality of the two main characters is one big change, or at least it was during its initial release. A good portion of the opening is devoted to developing the relationship and giving some background info about Corky’s LGBTQ lifestyle. The filmmakers hired a technical consultant to make sure they got the details right. While the look and actions of the characters come across as stylized, just like they would be in film noirs, it works well here and allows the movie a unique and distinctive approach.
Additionally, having female protagonists in a crime flick offers a whole new dynamic to the story progression. These mobsters are dismissive and think very little of women (even though they aren’t the sharpest knives in the drawer) and it’s thoroughly entertaining to watch these clever leads alter their behavior to influence and manipulate them. Violet stands out as particularly interesting, continually and effectively adapting to her surroundings. While the low-budget was likely perceived as limiting at the time, events are set at only a couple of locales, adding a sense of claustrophobia to the proceedings and Violet’s life in general.
So there’s a lot of fun subtext to analyze early on. And while it takes a bit of time to really get rolling, when the plan is set into motion the movie’s momentum never falters. It literally turns into more than an hour of nail-biting suspense as characters are forced into reacting to unexpected impediments and twists. These nervous passages are also helped tremendously by the performances. Especially the mobsters, who are extremely antsy and prone to outbursts of anger and violence. Caesar is extremely entertaining to watch as blood is shed, the realization of his troubles set in, and he slowly becomes more and more unhinged.
And as seen in later features from the filmmakers, the visuals are incredible. Besides the fun neo-noir lighting, director of photography Bill Pope (Army of Darkness, The Matrix, Spider-Man 2, Team America: World Police, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Baby Driver) manages to capture some striking angles. There are macro shots moving out of a gun barrel and along a bar counter. At times the camera is placed immediately below and nearly resting on the characters. Some shots feature the point-of-view being spun around as characters point guns and make accusations. And there’s an impressive set-up with the camera hovering overhead in the air as a figure falls backwards heels first to the floor, all captured in slow-motion. More than 20 years later, this is still a great, visually accomplished feature.
The image quality on the Blu-ray is excellent. I’ve never seen the movie look quite this sharp. Dark shadows are nice and inky, and the brighter visuals pop all the more thanks to the improved clarity. In addition to looking exceptional, the disc itself comes with some great bonuses too. The first is an archived commentary track featuring the Wachowskis, along with technical advisor Susie Bright (who explains some of the symbolism that admittedly went over my head the first time I saw the movie). The track also contains comments from editor Zach Staenberg and actors Joey Pantoliano, Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon. Admittedly, the directors aren’t very talkative, but they do offer up a few interesting pieces of technical information. It is the actors who bring the most energy to the recording. They make plenty of amusing comments, deliver some of their ad-libs that didn’t make it into the final cut, and give their recollections on the production.
Additionally, there are recent interviews with critics about the movie’s cultural impact, how it combines elements and differentiates itself from film noir, as well as the LGBTQ community’s initial reaction to the movie. There’s also a talk with the creator of the opening credits and how she designed the main titles. This disc also includes a talk with the editor, director of photography Bill Pope and film composer. Additionally, there are some entertaining conversations with Tilly and Gershon about how they became involved in the project, as well as an interview with Meloni on his mobster role. He offers up some amusing anecdotes on his lunk-headed character.
The write-up on the back of the Bound Blu-ray suggests the movie has been called “a groundbreaking work of LGBTQ cinema”. It holds up just as well as a fun, pulse-pounding thriller. Olive Signature have delivered a fancy, extras-laden Blu-ray that provides plenty of entertaining and informative extras. This release comes highly recommended.