by Anthony O'Connor
Worth: Discs: 2, The Film: 4/5, The Extras: 4/5, Overall: 8/10
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Jennifer Tilly, Gina Gershon, Joe Pantoliano, John Ryan, Christopher Meloni, Richard C. Sarafian, Barry Kivel
Intro:
… underrated, steamy slice of neo noir goodness.
The Film:
Although The Wachowskis are best known for The Matrix (1999), and its significantly less impressive sequels, they actually knocked out another film before they made every wanker at the goth club think that a leather trenchcoat and sunnies was appropriate indoor attire. Titled Bound, the stylish 1996 neo-noir was actually their directorial debut. It was also, and this is true, an absurdly toey work of the cinematic arts. Like, an alarmingly sexy film. But time can be a fickle mistress, cruel and capricious, and films from that era have often aged poorly. So, how has Bound fared all these many years later? And is it worth taking a squiz?
You know what? It absolutely is!
Bound is the story of two women. There’s the ridiculously hot, breathy femme vixen Violet (Jennifer Tilly) and the ridiculously hot, butch lady tradie Corky (Gina Gershon). Violet is in an unhappy marriage with sociopathic gangster Caesar (Joe Pantoliano) and Corky is doing some renovations in the apartment next door to them. The attraction between Violet and Corky after a chance meeting in an elevator is immediate and before your cup of tea has time to cool the pair are engaging in enthusiastic lesbionics.
This opening 20-30 minutes of the film feels like a classy old school skinflick, a softcore porno if you will, before all material of this type was about rooting your sister. These are classily shot, subtle and genuinely very erotic sequences that feature two of Hollywood’s most uniquely sexy actresses going at one another like a seagull on a bag of chips.
However, as the relationship evolves, Violet begins to pine for an escape from Caesar and Corky wants to join her. But would they dare steal from the mob to make their dreams come true? And what will those dead-eyed psychopaths do when they find out their dosh has been nicked?
At its core, Bound is a good old fashioned character-focused erotic thriller shot with a surplus of style and panache by The Wachowskis. It also benefits from terrific performances, with Gershon particularly strong as the savvy but directionless Corky and Tilly totally believable as the woman for whom she’ll risk everything. Joe Pantoliano also does fine work as Caesar, who isn’t all that bright but possesses a nasty streak of rat cunning. Additional kudos to small but important supporting roles from the likes of John Ryan, Richard C. Sarafian and Christopher Meloni (with hair, no less). The plot itself isn’t a wildly unpredictable one, but it moves along at a decent clip and has enough tension and explosions of violence (not to mention the central chemistry between the two forbidden lovers) to keep even the most jaded movie viewers engaged. And probably a bit hot and bothered, just quietly.
It’s also wild to note that the budget for this thing was $8.6 million (AUD) and it looks better than oodles of films with quadruple those resources. Shot smartly, efficiently and economically, Bound hides the fact that it’s almost a single location play with plenty of spicy antics, well-executed tension and chutzpah by the gallon.
Bound is a film that succeeds not only as a bloody good little thriller, but also as a statement of intent by The Washowskis. After all, only three years later, they released The Matrix and blew the bloody doors off the action genre. This new 4K print of the film really showcases this honing of their skills and mastery of slick, sensual aesthetics.
The Extras:
A juicy collection of forbidden extras here. There’s a big audio commentary that includes The Wachowskis (in a rare on disc appearance), editor Zach Staenberg, Gina Gershon, Jennifer Tilly, Joe Pantoliano and Susie Bright.
In terms of featurettes, there’s Modern Noir: The Sights and Sounds of Bound – about the visual and sonic aspects of the production, Hail Caesar – an interview with Joe Pantoliano, Here’s Johnnie! – an interview with the always delightful Christopher Meloni, The Difference Between You and Me – an interview with film scholars B. Ruby Rich and Jennifer Moorman and Part and Parcel – an interview with title designer Patti Podesta. There are also a bunch of legacy featurettes, TV spots and trailers.
Best of the bunch is Femmes Fatales – an interview with actresses Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly where they both express their affection for the material, one another and how the movie played out. Particularly charming is Tilly’s assertion that she was really surprised how much chemistry she and Gina had on screen because “I’ve had affairs with my leading men before and on screen? Nothing!”
The whole package comes bundled with a 44-page hardcover booklet and is contained in a sturdy hard box.
The Verdict:
Often overshadowed by the film that followed it, Bound is nonetheless a terrific little thriller with an exceptional cast, genuine tension and some of the sexiest on screen chemistry between two absolute icons of cinema. Helmed by a directing team who would go on to change the blockbuster game, it’s a slick, violent and clever ride that never lets up.
Bundled together with a very decent set of extras and a gorgeous 4K print, this is the ultimate way to watch this underrated, steamy slice of neo noir goodness.
