Customer Reviews

Bound [VHS]

5 star:		(116)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The Wachowski Brothers (writers of the Stallone/Banderas flick "Assassins") make their directorial debut with this film-noir thriller. Bound is the classic tale of a gangster's moll named Violet (Jennifer Tilly) wanting to escape the business and her mob boyfriend Ceasar (Joe Pantoliano) and enlists the help of her new love interest (Gina Gershon) to do it.

Except this movie has a twist. The "handyman" next door, Corky, is a butch dyke who's just got out of prison for the "redistribution of wealth" and redecorating the apartment next to Violet and Ceasar's. Violet, pouty-lipped and husky-voiced, seduces Corky and the two come up with a plan to steal 2 million dollars that Ceasar is holding for his mob boss, and escape from mob life.

The plotline, seemingly formulaic, has many twists and surprises for the viewer. Not to mention a steamy love scene between Corky and Violet, surpervised by real-life sexpert Susie Bright (who also had a cameo in the film) to make sure the lesbian scene was accurate.

One of the real standouts, besidse the great acting between Tilly and Gershon, is Joe Pantoliano as the gangster Ceasar. His portrayal of the small-time hood is dead-on, and we find that even Ceasar, who is supposedly being screwed over by his mistress and her lover, is also very clever.

Over all, I found this movie very exciting and was spellbound when I saw it. However, it is not for the squeamish. There are a few violent scenes, and some persons might find the lesbian sex scene offensive (what I don't get is why?).

However, I'd suggest this movie to any fan of 40s-50s gangster movies, and even Tarantino and Coen Brothers fans. Another movie you might want to check out is "The Matrix," which was also done by the Wachowskis.

Before the Wachowski Brothers did The Matrix, there was the erotic thriller, Bound, starring Jennifer Tilly, Gina Gershon, Joe Pantoliano, John P. Ryan, and Christopher Meloni. This was a low budget movie (four-and-a-half million dollars) that was to be the calling card for Andy and Larry Wachowski so that they could eventually do The Matrix series. They both wrote and directed Bound, demonstrating their unbelievable talent in making a film that would quickly become a cult classic in just a few short years. The script was sharp and fresh with more twists in it than a pretzel. They were able to get the two sexiest women in Hollywood at the time (Tilly and Gershon) to play the leads with Joe Pantoliano agreeing to take a cut in salary for his role as Caesar. They got a great Production Designer, Editor and Director of Photography to make Bound's appearance to be more film noir in essence with its dark tones and shadows and sparse cutting. The rest as they say is history.

Bound deals with Corky (played by Gershon), who just got out of prison after having served five years for what she calls a distribution of funds, or stealing. She was betrayed by her female partner and therefore has a severe lack of trust in those around her. She takes a job as a maintenance repair guy in a Chicago condo building and soon meets the vibrant and sexy Violet (played to the hilt by Tilly), who's the girlfriend of Caesar, a money launderer for the Mob. The couple live in the condo right next to the one that Corky is doing repairs in. The attraction between Corky and Violet is immediate, and it isn't long before Violet sexually seduces her. Corky knows trouble when she sees it, but that doesn't stop her from giving in to Violet's manipulations. It isn't long, however, before Violet makes the suggestion to her new lover that they steal two million dollars of the Mob's money, allowing Caesar to take the fall for its lost. What a deal--two million dollars, plus Violet. How could any man, or woman, say no to that. Of course, nothing goes according to the plan as all hell breaks lose with Caesar doing just the opposite of what the two ladies had hoped for. Then, there's the question of whether or not Corky will once again find herself being betrayed by the woman she cares about. Any and everything can happen before the ending is reached as betrayal, torture and murder become the norm for this outstanding film.

This movie is everything a viewer could hope for. It's scary, funny and sexy to the ninth degree. Tilly and Gershon heat up the screen with their lovemaking and dubious intentions. They capture theirs roles with perfect aplomb, delighting in the subtle nuances that each brings to their particular character and playing off of it. Joe Pantoliano does a great job as the man who's caught in the middle of these two black widows, refusing to go down without a fight. One big surprise is how great John Ryan is as Mickey, a boss for the Mob. The guy is downright scary in his performance. He never raises his voice or over reacts--just a steady force to be reckoned with. Christopher Meloni as crazy Johnnie Marzzone brings in the laughs with his wicked sense of humor in the most dour of situations like when an accountant for the Mob is being tortured about the money he's stolen. When a finger is cut off and falls to the bathroom floor, Johnnie says, "Oops. You dropped something." Bound is a slick, classy film with top performances by its actors that totally deserves all of the recognition it's received over the years. It's a movie that you can certainly watch over and over. I will say that there isn't much in the way of extras on the DVD, but the film commentary is great. Jennifer Tilly shows up during the last third of the commentary and basically steals the show away from the Wachowski Brothers and Joe Pantoliano. She won't let anyone get in a word edgewise and acknowledges that she sometimes talks too much. Gershon shows up a few minutes later, and they both have fun razing Joe about his semi-nude scenes in the movie and his overall acting. Needless to say, the commentary is loads of fun. Bound is the type of movie that gives me hope for Hollywood. This is what filmmaking is all about, and it goes to show that fantastic movies can be made on a shoestring budget. You don't need two-hundred million dollars to make a classic.

I rented this movie long ago, not having a clue what it was about (best way to watch a film), and it blew me away. The style and direction is amazing. It's not for everyone... for example, I raved about it to my brother, he saw it, and said I have weird taste in film (this is no romantic-comedy-type movie!).

The two lead females were so sexy together that it practically made me want to turn into a lesbian. But the best part was that when the action started, on top of all the suspense and action, you didn't know if the two woman were just using each other or really cared for each other.

This is a good film for people open to movies with violence, like if you were a fan of Pulp Fiction. It's a very smart film.

Another great movie that not a lot of people have heard about that was on Siskle and Ebert's top 10 list one year (I believe in the #1 spot) is One False Move-- a great film!

"Bound" surprises the viewer from start to finish with plot twist upon turn - it's a great movie. It'll grab your attention right from the start with two passionate scenes between Jennifer Tilly & Gina Gershon, and then things really get rolling.

Joey Pants (as folks seem to call him in the biz) plays a middle-managment gangster who borders on the pathetic; his attitude is definitely much bigger than he is. After a collection operation gone a bit awry, Violet (Tilly) and Corky (Gershon) hatch a plan to make off with more than two million dollars of the mafia's money. The plan is simple enough, but naturally is doesn't go off exactly as planned; blood is shed, there's a lot of running around and screaming, cover-up is laid upon cover-up, and some pruning shears come into play more than once.

This is great film noir, and everyone is cast perfectly. The brothers do an excellent job of direction, with novel angles and shooting methods (you wouldn't expect anything less from these guys, would you?) They also employ some classic film noir sequences that work perfectly. It should hold your attention throughout, very enjoyably.

First, let me compliment the cast. The two female leads, I believe, did an absolutely fabulous job with their roles, and convinced me that they could have actually have fallen in love. That is very important, because everything else that happens in the film is dependent on believing that they have developed enough love and trust in each other to pull off the caper they are attempting. Joe Pantoliano also does a good job as the mobster trying to pull himself out of the hole he finds himself in when the movie really kicks into gear.

Okay, to get to the plot. Basically, Jennifer Tilly's character(Violet) sees and then meets Gina Gershon's character(Corky), they develop a relationship, fall in love, and then decide to steal over two million dollars from the mob and blame it on Violet's boyfriend. That's only the nut shell though, the actual story takes many twists and turns over this material as things start spinning wildly out of control, and things don't always go the way that the girls had planned.

A lot of the story depends on split timing from the girls, and the belief that they could trust one another enough to pull this off after knowing each other for such a short time, and the fact that they could have fallen in love with one another. Their relationship does seem to develop fairly fast, but from the first time the two of them really talked to one another over a cup of coffee, to the scene where Violet entices Corky over by asking her to get an earring she dropped down the drain out for her, I was sold. Just listening to Violet breathlessly asking Corky to kiss her as they sat on the couch after the earring episode was an experience in itself.

After that, when the money enters the picture, their relationship is primarily put on the back burner as everything now hinges around the money. The money is stolen, rather cleverly, but from there things start going downhill for the two of them. Ceasar, Pantoliano's character, doesn't react the way Corky thought he would, and soon the bodies begin to pile up, and after a little trick with a redial button, the girls find themselves in real danger, where they really need their trust in one another to save their lives.

The pace of the movie always remains brisk, and I found myself constantly sitting on the edge of my seat as I watching it, all the way through until the end. I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone, so don't read the end of this if you haven't already seen the movie. I like the movies where the bad guy gets his, and although almost everyone in this movie was a bad guy in one way or another, even the two female leads, I still enjoyed seeing Violet blow Ceasar away, and the two girls riding off into the metaphoric sunset with the two million dollars. A most enjoyable way to spend two hours of your time, at least in my book. Hope you think so too.

Bound revolves around three key characters. The first is a gangster named Caesar ( Joe Pantoliano). The second is his mistress Violet (Jennifer Tilly). The third is a woman named Corky ( Gina Gershon) who was just released from prison and also moved into the same building as Caesar and Violet. Although Violet is involved with Caesar, she can't help developing a strong infatuation with Corky. The story takes an interesting turn when Corky and Violet become lovers. The two lovers then slowly develop a plan to steal 2 million dollars from the mob, and frame Caesar in the process.

"Bound" is a great film. The overall suspense is nail-biting. Another thing I like about this movie, is the fact that it is laid out extremely well, and leaves no loose ends at all. You don't end up feeling confused, or wondering why the film happened the way that it did. Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly have great chemistry in this film and provide passionate love scenes and a partnership that is extremely solid. It really is fun to watch the two women work together in and out of the bedroom. Joe Pantoliano however gives the film's best performance. He plays the role of an angry mobster perfectly, as well as the confused mark who never knew what hit him. Watching him lose control is great.

The DVD itself is excellent. Not only is it affordable, but it also includes the unrated version of the film and commentary from the directors, as well as Jennifer Tilly, Gina Gershon, and Joe Pantoliano. I highly recommend this movie!!

A thoroughly absorbing caper from the first scene to the last. If you like sitting on the edge of your seat, wondering what in the world is going to happen next, then you'll love being plopped down into the intricate maze of this film. The story twists and turns unpredictably, and the billiantly quirky cinematography and seamless editing add to the fun. Great star-turns by Jennifer Tilly, Joe Pantoliano, and especially Gina Gershon who never hits a false note. There's also an edgy, over-the-top performance by Christopher Meloni as a gleefully sadistic mobster; Meloni makes his scenes crackle with barely contained malice, and proves once again that he's a highly capable actor with a commanding on-screen presence.

The DVD presentation of this underrated gem is quite good. "Bound" is much more enjoyable when viewed in widescreen, and the sharp transfer offered on the disc is a vast improvement over the VHS version. The theatrical trailer and audio commentaries are enjoyable extras. A "making of" featurette would have been a nice bonus - but even without it, this is a great DVD that current and future fans of the movie will be proud to own.

Three words: Oh. My. God. This movie is just incredible. It's not that often that you come across a film that can pull you straight into it, hold you there and leave you breathless at the end, but this one does.

Okay, let's start at the beginning. Corky (Gina Gershon) is a lesbian ex-con who has just got out of prison. She moves into an apartment next door to Ceasar (Joe Pantoliano), a money launderer for the mob, and his girlfriend Violet (Jennifer Tilly).

Violet, who is perhaps not quite as heterosexual as Ceasar would like her to be, soon embarks on a fiery relationship with Corky. Gershon and Tilly have chemistry to burn; they play the sex scenes in a wonderful tongue-in-cheek manner, going for the 'fun' aspect of it.

This is all out of the way fairly quickly. We've established that they're a secret couple, and now the fun begins. Ceasar has $2 million dollars in his apartment which is being picked up the following day. Violet wants out and the money, and to get it she needs Corky's help. They hatch a plan and get a-thinking, but as always something goes wrong. This time? Ceasar is more intelligent than they gave him credit for.

Not only is the twisting plot ingenius and witty, but the whole movie is beautifully shot. Recognise Corky's gun? If the ending doesn't leave you with a huge smile on your face, nothing will. And in the end, how could anyone not love a lesbian-themed movie with the song "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)" on the soundtrack?

I have to be honest. The only reason I bought the film was because of the steamy love scene between Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly. But after watching the entire movie, I was astounded by how good the film was. It is by the same directors of the Matrix.

Tilly is a mob moll looking for a way out, and as she gets on the elevator in her building one day, she meets Corky, a plumber renovating the apartment next door. Fairly soon the two consummate their relationship, and fall in love. After a mobster steals A LOT of money from the mob, Tilly's MALE lover recovers it, and the two women hatch a plan to steal it.

But many things go wrong, and they will be lucky to get out of it with their lives. The suspense will leave you on the edge of your seat, guranteed. One of the greatest gangster thrillers in a long time. While the DVD has only the trailer and audio commentary, it boasts great picture/sound. Worth checking out. And for those of you looking for just the love scene, you won't be disappointed. And you will also like to rest of the film, too.

This was on television recently, it was a film i'd heard a little bit about, but most talk didn't get past the lesbian scenes. The fact that it was directed by the Wachowski Brothers (Matrix)persuaded me to watch it. I was expecting a low budget, experimental type movie that would use gratuitous sexual scenes to increase its appeal-the type of movie that comes back to haunt the directors, like an early porn film to a top actor. Well I hold my hands up and admit I was very wrong. This really was a great movie, it doesn't use an original formula but does use the lesbian relationship between Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon to give something a little new to the proceedings. I was expecting the relationship to be dealt with sleasily in a way that would cheapen the movie. Instead it is used in a way that challenges the male dominated Mafia and almost satirises the genre.

The script is well written and the film is coordinated perfectly by the director. The movie delivers suspense better than most which is definately helped by the convincing displays from the lead actors. This movie has the quality that will stand up on repeat viewings and is, therefore definately worth buying...but if in doubt, rent it out.