VividSimon Simply Perfect

Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Siflutter It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

sankhan99 As the fan of modern noirs which are often called Neo-Noirs I must say John Dahl knows how to make one. He is master of this genre. Good thing about him is that he focuses more on making movie entertaining rather than other aspects. Title in review is one of the example but IMDb users again have not done justice with another Neo-noir and rated it very low as usual.Movie is a wholesome entertainment. Look and feel of the movie is fantastically dark. Putting the highway in the movie even made it best. Characters are well constructed and they all mean business and also are desperate. Some great twists and turns but if you see lot of suspense thrillers then probably you will guess them beforehand. But still that doesn't mean you will not enjoy the movie. This is sort of movie which will glue to your seat for whole time. Pace of movie is good and you will Not find a single boring moment in it.I strongly recommend this movie to neo-noir lovers and also highway thriller lovers will equally enjoy it. So watch it.

moviestar26 Prior to 'Red rock west', John Dahl made 'Kill me again'. This movie was his first attempt at the noir genre. In fact this seemed to be the template for 'The last seduction' as the theme is very similar. His inspiration is clearly evident in the plot itself. There is a feeling of 50s noir cinema in the movie. Every element from the detective to the cheating femme fa tale is present. Dahl writes and directs his own movies. He is obviously talented in the in the writing field, so this is what he should have continued doing. However in terms of direction the certain edge is lacking. As it became frequent to direct in television style, maybe his movie making career did not sustain. Though many scenes have clever camera angles and close up shots that enhance intrigue factor and suspense. But this becomes irrelevant as the movie progresses with a interesting moment to a next.As I stated the movie contains all the ingredients of the typical noir movie. The disloyal characters, double crosses and money are at the core of the plot. John Dahl has incorporated all these elements intelligently. Everybody who is a fan of noir cinema will immediately find this theme very familiar. It has been a routine concept in the 50s. The deceiving woman requiring assistance from the innocent man, however is later betrayed is noticeable territory. For many this movie will bring back memories of 'Body Heat' and 'Double Indemnity' to mind instantly. The plot is highly similar. The main character is the female character. Everything that happens revolves around her. Therefore this does not complicate the movie at any level. Those searching for a simple and short movie will be happy with this feature. One element which is devoid however is adultery. The theme is not existent at any point. But this does not mean that there would be no scope for intimate scenes.SPOILERS AHEAD The plot begins with the conning pair of Madsen and Whalley Kilmer who steal $875000 from the mob in the Nevada state. However Whalley Kilmer does not intended to keep acquaintance with Madsen for much longer and leaves for Vegas after leaving him unconscious in a restroom. She is aware that he will attempt to trace her down for the money so she has a plan. We are then introduced to Jack (Val Kilmer) who is a private detective who happens to be in dept to some bad guys and has a troubled past. Whalley Kilmer approaches him with a faking a death plan. He agrees in return for a good payment. They set the scenario up at a motel room. Upon leaving the scene Whalley Kilmer intentionally leaves a piece of paper with Jacks name on it. Later he is questioned by the authorities and given a cautionary warning. Meanwhile Madsen notices news of Whalley Kilmer's murder in the press and goes to Jacks office to find a lead. Jake later discovers that Whalley Kilmer has left him and headed to Reno. He locates her though the mob too are searching for the stolen cash and notice it at a casino. The pair hitch up again and flee from the hotel room after killing some of the mob's men. Madsen is hot on their tails after Jake's friend gives information on Jacks whereabouts. Who gets possession of the money forms most of the part of the climax. END OF SPOILERSThe unique point of the movie is obviously the plot. Dahl has written the script with maturity. It is totally flawless. However to this date I have never seen a movie with not one but two men attempting to hitching back on to a woman after being betrayed. This was one element in the movie that I was scratching my head over. Many moments in the movie seemed like a Jim Thompson novel. But what sets this movie apart the the typical noir ending is that the innocent man escapes. The movie contains many double crosses. This is actually the highlight of the plot and will raise eyebrows constantly. Secondly Micheal Madsen's performance. Unfortunately he does not get much scope. But when he appears on screen he steals the scene. Every scene is integral to the movie and there are no side tracks. Plot wise the movie is very reminiscent of 'Pink Cadillac' and 'The Getaway'. In fact one could say that this is a clever combination of both movies. Madsen played the same role in 'The Getaway' too. However Dahl has avoided plagiarism and has managed to think of his own ideas. Background music appears very old fashioned. But is suitable to the tone of the movie. It has been implemented at a minimum level, however only at important moments when required. Initially many viewers will misinterpret this for a Cohen brothers movie. The look and atmosphere is highly reminiscent of 'Blood Simple'. Maybe Dahl's career with noir movies would have continued but they were overshadowed by the Coen Brothers. Performance wise Jaoanne Whalley Kilmer gives a reasonable effort. Her facial expressions are on the mark. Val Kilmer disappoints with a look of uninterested. Overall if you like your noir movies to be short and simple this would be recommended. But I could not say that one would feel the urge to watch it more than three times.

Robert J. Maxwell Joanne Whaley is a deceitful slut in this complicated neonoir thriller, and Val Kilmer is the private eye she manages to suck into her scheme to steal money from Michael Madsen who has just stolen it from the Mafia. There are multiple murders along the way. In the end everybody gets dead except for Kilmer who makes off with the entire stash. I don't know why the plot let him get away, because he's done all kinds of illegal stuff and proved himself as untrustworthy as anyone else. But the narrative has established him as just about the only sympathetic character in the movie -- his wife recently died in a drowning, for instance.The natural locations around Lake Mead are splayed out across the screen in gorgeous color. You really want to dive into the electric blue of that man-made lake. Urban settings are less well realized.The story line is involved and not very plausible. This babe, Whaley, conks Michael Madsen over the head with a rock while he's at the urinal, which is among other things very bad manners. What's she doing in the men's room anyway? What kind of a movie IS this? After Whaley and Kilmer have been together for a while, Madsen finally catches up to them, threatens and beats Kilmer, and rapes Whaley who manages to find a gun and appears to shoot Madsen multiorgasmically. But no! Madsen shows up for the climax of the film and he and Whaley fall into each other's arms and laugh. I guess he's forgotten about getting bashed in the urinal. And I guess he's still alive because Kilmer didn't bother to check and see if Whaley had REALLY shot him after being raped. Are you following this? Good, because I couldn't. Oh -- and I also must have missed the part in which Kilmer gets to take the money out of the attache case and fill the case with junk, including a can of Spam. In fact -- well, okay, I admit it. I lost track of the money per se once or twice during the film. I'm also not certain why we are left to assume that, at the end, Kilmer can be presumed to be safe from both the Mafia and the police. I'm sure there's some reason because I am a mechanical determinist.Performances. Whaley is suitably sluttish and very yummy. She looks a little and acts a lot like Natalie Wood and is about the same size. I rather liked her appearance -- that saucy ever-jiggling bosom, those big dark eyes looking outward in two slightly different directions.Whatever "charisma" means, Val Kilmer hasn't got it here. He recites his lines as if reading them from a cue card on an afternoon drama. There is no animation in his delivery or his movement. He seems bored by having to speak. And he has prissy good looks that are repugnant. But, man, did he come awake for some roles in later movies, doing for instance a splendid job in "Heat." But here he seems to be playing his instrument with a mute.Poor Michael Madsen, a nice guy in real life apparently. But if you've seen "Reservoir Dogs," you know what he's like here, slavering over the prospect of torturing bound prisoners with lighted cigarettes, automatics, a hunting knife, a baseball bat. Sometimes he switches from one application to another in the middle of a schtick.I was kind of in the mood for it and was pretty much disappointed by it, but I can see why someone in a less demanding mood might enjoy it. It doesn't really seem to deserve much applause.

inframan What a sexy woman Joanne Whalley is. I can see why Kilmer grabbed her & married her. In this she's the antecedent of the Linda Fiorentino character in Last Seduction, another wondrously sexy wench. John Dahl has a unique & powerful knack for choosing strong actresses & bringing out the universal vixen in them.The plot's nothing terribly original but it plays its familiar theme with some nice changes & variations. It has that classic quality that the best "noir" films had: it moves right along & keeps you in the center of the action.One thing I find curious is that no one (to my knowledge) has ever linked the Michael Madsen throat-cutting scene in this film with the Michael Madsen ear-cutting scene in Reservoir Dogs. Give credit where it's due!