PIC of the Week – The Last Seduction
Article series by Ray Schillaci
There are very few film noir modern movies that can even get close to matching the classics of the ’40s and ’50s like Double Indemnity, Gilda, and The Lady From Shanghai. In the last forty years or so there have only been a handful that come to mind: Chinatown, Body Heat, Basic Instinct, and Romeo is Bleeding. And, as crazy and as devious as Sharon Stone was in Basic Instinct, and as frighteningly bonkers as Lena Olin was in Romeo is Bleeding, none of these women compare to the seductive and deadly performance of Linda Fiorentino in The Last Seduction. Aptly named because it all stops here with this steamy movie.
Scorpion Releasing puts the sting back into this modern film noir classic with a much appreciated Blu that has been long overdue. Somewhere between the Nicolas Cage/Dennis Hopper crime thriller, Red Rock West, and the excellent crime drama Rounders starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton, director John Dahl demonstrated the seamiest side of life with Seduction. After seeing any one of these three movies mentioned one cannot help but wonder why Dahl and Fiorentino have not had more high profile projects.
Fiorentino plays sexpot Bridget Gregory who steals her husband’s drug money, takes off, and hides in a small town only to find her next chump. Writer/director/actor Peter Berg plays Mike, the sap who feels very lucky being used as a sex object by this gorgeous woman. But, this cat-and-mouse game will prove to be very dangerous when Bridget has other plans than just getting laid. Bill Pullman is the last mark and her husband that hires a detective to find her to save his life from the low-lifes that want their drug money back.
Director Dahl delivers classic film noir moments in this film along with some of the most sensual sex scenes seen on film. Once again, Fiorentino is one of the greatest femme fatales that has set the screen on fire. The not-so-innocent co-stars are left to burn with no remorse.
The saddest part about this film is that Fiorentino and Dahl were ineligible for an Oscar nomination. The film was first seen on HBO before it ever hit the theaters, disqualifying them for consideration. The film was popular enough to have a sequel made, but without the same cast or Dahl. Although, Joan Severance, known for the sexy superhero movie, Black Scorpion, and its sequel was not a bad fill-in for Fiorentino.
This is the first Blu presentation, and I’m hoping it’s not the last, since there is room for improvement. Is it better than Artisan’s 2002 DVD release, quite a bit. Aspect ratio is better, delivering more picture. Attention to detail has improved. But, at times there is a flatness to the look, and there is an issue with video noise in certain scenes more than likely taken from an old master. But, this is still an improvement enough to have fans place it alongside the Blu of Body Heat and Twilight Time’s Romeo is Bleeding.
As far as audio goes, you have two to choose from: a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 track that is a rigorous demonstration that can sound flat at times or the richer sounding lossless LPCM 2.0 that is far richer and deeper. There’s more separation with the 2.0, but some just have to have their 5.0. Once again, an improvement over the DVD.
There is a nice set of bonuses along with the film. Special features include:
-A new audio commentary with Director John Dahl, moderated by Nathaniel Thompson
–The Art of Seduction featurette with Dahl, star Bill Pullman and writer Steve Barancik
-Behind-the-scenes footage
-Deleted scenes with an optional commentary
-Alternate ending with an optional commentary
-Stills gallery
-Trailer
Best Price – $19.98 Walmart & Amazon
