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WILD THINGS
Unrated Edition
Review by Gordon Justesen
Stars:
Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Theresa Russell, Denise Richards,
Daphne Rubin Vega, Robert Wagner, Bill Murray
Director: John McNaughton
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1
Studio: Columbia Tri Star
Features: See Review
Length: 115 Minutes
Release Date: April 20, 2004
"People
aren't always what they appear to be. Don't forget that."
Film
***
It's rare that a
movie feels so proud to be extremely lurid and over the top the way Wild
Things does. I remember seeing it in the theater, and I couldn't have seen
it at a more perfect time. When it was released, I had just then begun to be
more and more fascinated by film noir, having just seen L.A.
Confidential a few months previous, and if there was ever a movie that
celebrated film noir at every angle, this was it. Wild
Things is stylish film noir, and then some.
As in all cases
with reviewing a thriller, I'll do my absolute best to describe as much of the
plot without revealing too much, or what the ads never did. Trust me, Wild
Things has so many crazy turns and surprises that by the film's end, I lost
count. Needless to say, it's that aspect that makes watching it a most
incredible experience.
The story's setting
is in the sunny town of Blue Bay, the perfect town for a noir setting. Matt
Dillon stars as Sam Lombardo, a high school guidance counselor who's also very
much the ladies man of the town. Though he gives the illusion of a good Samaritan,
with a Teacher of the Year award on his shoulder, Lombardo is soon accused of
some serious charges.
Enter Kelly Van
Ryan (Denise Richards), the richest, and yes, hottest girl in town. When Kelly
reveals that she was the victim of rape at the hands of Lombardo, it results in
the most sensational case to ever hit the town. Lombardo maintains his
innocence, saying that Kelly has been an emotionally damaged girl ever since her
father's suicide. When taken to court, Lombardo is given somewhat limited
representation by low-end ambulance chaser Ken Bowden (Bill Murray, funny as
ever in a scene stealing performance.)
Unexpectedly, the
case goes sour upon the testimony of fellow student Suzie (Neve Campbell), who
reveals to the court that Kelly was setting up Lombardo from the start. So the
case goes in Lombardo's favor, resulting in a huge payout from Kelly wealthy
mother (Theresa Russell). Despite having the charges against him thrown out,
Lombardo feels his future at the high school is over anyway in the midst of
Kelly hatred for him. The money coming to him is from no less than the girl's
trust fund.
Though it looks as
if a high profile case went south, local cop Ray Duquette (Kevin Bacon) suspects
something lurking beneath the surface. His suspicions consists of the three key
figures in the case; Lombardo, Kelly, and even Suzie, a girl from the wrong side
of the tracks who is bitter enemies with Kelly. Duquette thinks that the whole
case was nothing more than an acting stunt pulled off by the three culprits, as
part of a scam to get away with the millions of dollars given in Lombardo's
direction.
The rest of the
plot I'll leave for you to discover. Seeing a movie like this for the first time
is a most joyous experience, and I wouldn't dare dream of ruining that by
revealing any of the crucial twists in the story. I feel like I've may have
spoiled too much already.
Director John
McNaughton has visited the dark side of cinema before. After all, he made one of
the most disturbing films of its time with Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. But Wild Things, for all its super sleaze and over the top qualities, is
a far cry from anything disturbing, though it does contain enough extreme areas
that most movies in our PC age would stray very far away from. One thing's for
sure, McNaughton studied his film noir and got all of the elements right in a
dead-on fashion.
And how about this
game cast? You've got to give Matt Dillon credit for his smooth portrayal of
such a guy who, on the written page, was fully meant to be despised. It was a
well timed predecessor to the actor's next appearance, the blockbuster There's
Something About Mary, released later that year.
As the young
would-be sultry vixen, Denise Richards slips into the femme fatale role as
perfectly as Cinderella does into her shoe. In addition, Ms. Richards has a
scene or two that will certainly make the male audience quite happy, if you know
what I mean.
Kevin Bacon also
delivers a noteworthy performance as the high-on-suspicion cop with a few dark
secrets of his own. Of course, by now it has become clear that Mr. Bacon's
female fan base has increased following this movie. His notorious scene of
frontal-ness practically became the big news surrounding the movie. Wish
somebody would've warned me before I first saw the movie, jeez. ;)
But a special honor
shall go way of Bill Murray, whose twenty minute appearance in the movie
provides some very huge laughs. What makes his antics so uniquely funny is the
notion that in the midst of all the steaminess and suspense, Murray is able to
through in some memorable laughs into the mix, as only he can deliver.
Wild
Things represents a complete and well done example of contemporary film noir.
Laced with endless intrigue and sex and sleaze coming from every corner
imaginable, this is a memorable and proud-to-be-over-the-top piece of good
trash, which is something very hard to execute.
NOTE: Be sure not
to turn off the movie during the end credits. Certain plot details/revelations,
including a few new bits in this Unrated version, are included.
Video
****
Complete with a
strong and a very wide-eye provided by director McNaughton, the movie has been
given a most solid look, courtesy of Columbia Tri Star, for its second time
around on DVD. The setting of Blue Bay is key to the movie as well as a
character in itself. Every aspect of the sharp-as-a-blade scenery (sunny Florida
has never looked sexier) is given a most appropriate sense of detail. Colors are
equally stunning, and there are no image flaws detected anywhere. In short, a
most solid job.
Audio
***1/2
First off, I'm
pleased to report that CTS has issued something of a first: a Japanese 5.1 mix
for an English speaking film. Quite a nice change from the norm. We'll have to
see if this becomes a new trend on all DVDs. As for the initial 5.1 mix, the
quality is ever so strong and quality-perfected. Numerous set pieces provide
some nice range amongst channels, and dialogue and the perfect use of music,
including a song or two by Morphine (one of my favorite bands) payoff nicely as
well. Well done on many levels.
Features
*
I was quite
surprised to find a lack of extras on this disc, since the prior release
included some deleted scenes and a commentary track. I suppose that the 7
minutes of new, and occasionally sexy, footage serves as a bonus. Other than
that, all that's supplied are trailers for this, as well as Wild
Things 2, Cruel Intentions, Sin, and New
Best Friend.
Summary: