NADINE
US, 1987, 79 minutes, Colour.
Kim Basinger, Jeff Bridges, Rip Torn, Gwen Verdon, Glenne Headley, Jerry Stiller.
Directed by Robert Benton.
Nadine is a brief romantic thriller that may have been intended as a big box office success, but which is very modest in style and entertainment value. The screenplay was written by Robert Benton, co writer of such films as Bonnie and Clyde and writer-director of The Late Show, Kramer vs Kramer, Still of the Night, Places of the Heart. This is a very minor worry. It has excellent credentials, however, including photography by Nestor Almendros. The film also has a good cast, from Kim Basinger (in many films in the mid 80s,The Natural, No Mercy, 91/2 Weeks, Blind Date) and the ever reliable Jeff Bridges. Rip Torn snarls effectively as the villain. There is a cameo by Gwen Verdon. The setting is 1954, but it could have been anytime. There are some amusing sequences, a little bit of thrill in the criminals chasing innocent victims.
1. Entertaining comedy thriller? Compared with other films in the genre?
2. Texas locations, the city of Austin, 1954? Special effects? The musical score?
3. The title and the focus on Nadine? Kim Basinger's presence and style?
4. The situation: the photography, Nadine wanting to get the photos, her visit to Escobar's office, the murder, the wrong photos, her trying to recover her own photos, her involvement of her ex husband, her love for him, her being pregnant, her getting him to raid the place of the murder? The subsequent chase?
5. Nadine, a Texan, her work, friendship with Vera, separation from Vernon, her pregnancy, love for her husband, attitude towards his ambitions? Her controlling him? Her decision to have the photos, to get then back? The murder? Her running away? Getting Vernon to help her? Driving the car, running away, hiding? The heavies and their threatening Vernon and Nadine? Pope kidnapping her? Threats and counter-threats? The adventures of escape, especially in the empty building, crossing the open space on the ladder? The tip, the shoot-outs? The happy resolution? An enjoyable character?
6. Jeff Bridges as Vernon? Easygoing, his ambitions for his club, its sleazy tone? Separation from Nadine? his girlfriend, and the complications in the caravan, with the nightdress? Her telling him off? His love for Nadine? Going to retrieve the photos? The car chase and the escape? his effective driving? Hiding the photos, knowing their value, going to his cousin Dwight, Dwight setting him up? The capture by Pope, the confrontation with the henchmen? The escape, through the window? The shootout at the rubbish tip? The police and their demands for the photos? The happy ending? An engaging character?
7. Pope as villain: the murder of Escobar, his suave and sinister style, the tough henchmen, trying to persuade Nadine, holding her, trying to persuade Vernon, his hold over Dwight, kidnapping the couple, the violence and brutality, the confrontation, his death? Floyd and the other henchmen? Their toughness, brutality, Vernon getting the better of then? Deaths? Dwight and his relationship with Vernon, money schemes, his girlfriend, his decision to help, betraying Vernon, believing Pope, his being betrayed by Pope?
8. Escobar and his photography, art studies, his being murdered, deals and land development? In the tradition of Hitchcock style thrillers and chases with the comic touch? A modest entertinment?
