After Dark, My Sweet [WS]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Adapted from a novel by pulp writer Jim Thompson, After Dark, My Sweet evokes memories of the film noirs of yore. Jason Patric plays Collie, a short-fused ex-boxer who gets mixed up with alcoholic widow Fay (Rachel Ward) and burned-out former lawman Uncle Bud (Bruce Dern). These two lowlifes involve Collie in a kidnapping scheme. At first willing to go along with the plan, Collie tires of Fay's drunken mood swings and seeks out new companionship. Doctor George Dickinson proves all too eager to be friends with Collie -- more than friends, in fact. Driven back into Fay's arms, Collie agrees to aid in the kidnapping. But when the victim turns out to be diabetic, things go from bad to worse. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Theatre Wide Screen)
• Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Subtitle: English
• Features:
  • 2.0 Dolby Surround
  • Digitally mastered
  • Scene access
  • Interactive menus
  • Widescreen version

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Director:

  James Foley

• Screenwriter:

  James Foley, Robert Redlin

• Book Author:

  Jim Thompson

• Cinematographer:

  Mark Plummer

• Composer (Music Score):

  Maurice Jarre

• Editor:

  Howard E. Smith

• Production Designer:

  Ken Hardy, Ric Kidney, David Brisbin

• Co-producer:

  Ric Kidney, Robert Redlin

• Executive Producer:

  Cary Brokaw

• Set Designer:

  Margaret Goldsmith

• Costume Designer:

  Hope Hanafin

• Makeup:

  Felicity Bowring

• Special Effects:

  Ken Diaz

• Stunts:

  A.J. Nay

• Casting:

  David Rubin

REVIEW:

• After Dark, My Sweet, adapted from cult-favorite crime novelist Jim Thompson's 1955 novel, is a dark and involving yet flawed modern-day film noir. Director James Foley and cinematographer Mark Plummer successfully creates a mood of desperation, which partially explains the motivations of the characters, but are not helped by a weak screenplay by Robert Redlin that fails to fully flesh out the characters. Jason Patric gives a wonderfully smoldering performance as the psychotic Collie, and finds the core of sympathy in an otherwise unpleasant character. Ward, while lovely, lacks the allure and sexuality necessary to make her a memorable femme-fatale and fails to create any real sexual chemistry with Patric. Without this chemistry, her character remains a drunken loser rather than a true film noir seductress. Bruce Dern is adequate as the completely unappealing and repellant Bud, but the character fails to evoke any empathy that would allow the audience to understand or relate to him on any level. Despite these flaws, Patric's performance makes this moody, atmospheric film well worth watching. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi