PIC of the Week – Fatale
Article Series by Ray Schillaci
Sure, there is plenty of Oscar bait streaming out there, but every so often we’re in the mood for a good trashy story. That’s what Artisan/Lionsgate delivers in spades with Fatale, starring Oscar winning actress Hillary Swank and star of stage, screen and television, the Golden Globe nominee and the man with the mesmerizing blue eyes, Michael Ealy. Together they play a very nasty game of cat and mouse. We’ve seen countless movies like Fatal Attraction over the years, but not with so many twists and exciting turns.
Ealy plays Derrick Tyler, a man who appears to have it all; a thriving, successful career, co-heading an L.A. based talent agency representing African-American athletes, a magnificent home, and a stunning wife. But, all is not what it appears to be. Derrick’s wife, Tracie, is so busy building her own career as a real estate agent she appears to have little time for him. And, his business partner and best friend, Rafe, is putting the pressure on him to merge with a bigger company. Derrick insists on taking the moral high ground, maintaining the company’s independence and remaining his own boss.
Derrick is also frustrated with his wife’s late hours and having little time with her. He’s frustrated and lonely. The worst idea is to join his friends for a bachelor party in Vegas. This part is practically telegraphed when Rafe takes off Derrick’s wedding ring and tells him he’s to be a bachelor for the night. Enter Hillary Swank appearing sexy and carefree. They flirt at the bar and immediately end up in bed barely getting each other’s name. Of course, Derrick goes by Darren and claims he’s from Seattle.
At this point, you may not feel any empathy for Derrick. Most people would say he gets what he deserves. But, this is no ordinary one-night-stand or fatal attraction. Derrick’s situation can be downright shocking at times. Swank is at her twisted slinkiest while Ealy is a wide-eyed dupe, and so are we for that matter, because we really don’t know what any of these players are capable of. That’s what makes this film so watchable.
Writer David Loughery knows how to make you feel uneasy in very possible situations as he has done with The Intruder, Lakeview Terrace and Obsessed. Although, compared to all of those, Fatale beats them all in one-upping the audience. This is probably largely due to his teaming up once again with director Deon Taylor. Taylor knows exactly where to haunt us with guilt and fear. He’s also not afraid to throw in a few gotchas without them feeling obligatory. The story is helped along by the sturdy work of the supporting players, especially Mike Colter (Luke Cage, Evil) as Rafe and the gorgeous Damaris Lewis (BlacKkKlansman) as Tracie.
The colors on this Blu are near gaudy depicting the opulent lifestyle. It’s almost like watching a nightmarish fantasy. But, when we step into the real world, tones are harsh. That is the difference we see in the way Swank is photographed. Stunning one moment, deeply troubling the next. There seems to be some color saturation now and then, but that may be due to the film itself and the look the director opted for. Aside from that, the picture is sharp and there is no problem with clarity. Flesh tones are detailed beautifully. All in all, the director has accomplished capturing the mood of film noir.
The DTS-HD soundtrack is utilized to its fullest extent for a film of this type. Nightclub sounds will surround your living space while other more abrupt sounds will have you jumping from the couch. There is not a whole lot of subtleness going on here yet dialogue remains clear enough not to use subtitles.
Extras are at a minimum on this disc. Then again, why would we want anything more. That would be like asking for caviar with our Subway sandwich. The appetizers are few…
• Audio Commentary with Director/Producer Deon Taylor and Producer Roxanne Avent Taylor
• Making Fatale
• Deon Taylor: The Right Direction
• Cinematography: Finding the Killer Look
• Alternate Ending
Let me remind you, once again. Fatale is “B” movie fun. Cinema fast food for a trashy fix. It may not garner critics attention. In fact, Rotten Tomatoes has given it a 44%, but the audience rating is 88%. That means high brow critics will frown on it while regular audiences will gobble it up with glee. So, if you are out for the thrills and chills of cheating gone horribly bad, this is the film for you. You can either purchase or rent it on VOD or Redbox.
Lowest Price – $19.96 – Walmart
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