An
older woman works for a powerful bookie, a younger woman seduces her
way through life, while a young man uses sleight of hand to nickel
and dime a living for himself. Other than the fact that they are all
on the grift, they are also a mother, son and girlfriend. Their
lives cross, butit becomes more of a double-cross as they can't trust
each other.
A
well-acted and absorbing modern film noir, taken from the gritty Jim
Thompson novel which was adapted into a screenplay by modern crime
writer Donald Westlake. The characters are complex, situations
authentic and while the point of the film seems enigmatic, it still
remains fascinating. It probably could have been better, with an
overall awkwardness in the directorial style and choice of music
(Elmer Bernstein doing 40s noir in modern terms) tend to keep the
going on in something less than gripping terms. Overrated by critics
and overlooked by the mass audience, it's worthwhile enertainment
fans of film noir and crime dramas.
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