BLOOD AND WINE

US, 1997, 98 minutes, Colour.
Jack Nicholson, Michael Caine, Judy Davis, Stephen Dorff, Jennifer Lopez, Harold Perrineau Jr.
Directed by Bob Rafelson.

Blood and Wine is a clever film about petty gangsters in Florida, would-be high flyers from suburbia who get tangled in domestic quarrels as well as their own incompetence. They successfully rob a wealthy family with the help of their Cuban maid but, as in real life, they are surprised by the unpredictable. Jack Nicholson and Michael Caine play off each other well as the thieves between whom is no honour. Judy Davis has a dramatic role as Nicholson's wife. Stephen Dorff is her son. There are several twists in the plot and some action which is sometimes brutal.

1.Film noir? Crime story, thriller, character interaction? The American background of this genre?

2.Florida locations, the coast, homes, Key Largo? The roads?

3.The title, the focus on Alex Gates and his life? Any religious overtones in the title?

4.The intricacies of the plot, the build-up to the crime, the crime itself? Characters, planning, twists, betrayal, chases, confrontations? The violence? The brutality?

5.The quality of the cast and its strengths?

6.Jack Nicholson's portrait of Alex: his background in Florida, the wine merchant and his expertise, his company? His marriage to Suzanne, his being stepfather to Jason? His using Suzanne's money? The growing clashes, Suzanne and her injury, his staying out at night? Jason taking him to task? His relationship with Gabriella? The young woman, his love for her, using her to rob the house? At work, delivering the wine, his charming style, using Jason for his work? The friendship with Victor, their discussions, collaboration, the plan, no honour amongst thieves? The visit to the mansion, the security cover, the guards and the discussions? The timing of the robbery? Victor photographing him holding the necklace? His being used by Victor and the hold over him with the photo? His packing to leave, the plan for selling the jewellery, Suzanne's coming home, the verbal clash, physical, her hitting him with her stick? His coming to, her disappearance, taking the jewellery with her? The decision to pursue her, the contacts with Gabriella, getting information? The jewellers and the sources of information for the fencing of the necklace? Going to Key Largo with Victor, the pursuit, the chase on the road, the accident? His not finding the jewellery and his leaving? His going to see Jason, their hostility? Going to see Victor, Jason setting them up? Victor's attack and his smothering Victor? The tip-off from Gabriella, his going to the boat, his visiting Henry to get information? Jason and his backing the boat and breaking Alex's legs? His being left abandoned, Gabriella going away, his throwing the necklace into the ocean? The intricacies of the character portrayal? Amoral, greed? What does it profit someone to gain the whole world...?

7.The contrast with Jason, shark-fishing, the collaboration with Henry, his skill with boats, the ambition to own a boat? His age, experience, his clashes with Alex, love for his mother? Going on the job with Alex? The attraction to Gabriella? His coming home, finding Alex, leaving with his mother? Going to Key Largo, the club, finding the jewellery, trying to get information? The encounter with Victor, Victor dancing with his mother, the anger, the car chase, the crash? In hospital, the clashes with Alex, suspicions of Henry? Buying the boat? Setting up Gabriella and Victor? Having the jewels, giving them to Gabriella, her return? His brutal backing the boat and injuring Alex? The futility of the ending for Alex? For Jason and his decisions - sailing the boat away? The contrast of the generations?

8.Michael Caine as Victor, the Englishman in Florida, criminal and prison background, the significance of his asthma and coughing? Shrewd and callous? The plan of the robbery, the execution, his cover? Photographing Alex with the necklace? Getting information from jewellers? The pursuit to Key Largo, accosting Suzanne, dancing with her? The bashing and the fight with Jason, the pursuit, the crash? Trying to remedy the situation - and bashing Alex? Alex murdering him?

9.Gabriella and the Cubans in Florida, her job with the family, the husband and his attraction to her? Her leaving the family? Planted by Alex, giving the information about the safe? Her attraction towards Jason? Going back to her family, Alex tracking her down? Her staying with him, Jason discovering her relationship with Alex and his anger? Her response, taking the necklace, giving information to Alex to come to the boat? Her return, giving up the necklace?

10.Suzanne, her background, love for Jason, marrying Alex, his using her money? The fall and the limp? Her coming back early, the fight with Alex, her leaving with Jason, the finding of the jewels, settling down, undercover? Her life together with her son? The dancing, the encounter with Vic, dancing with her, his pursuit of her? The driving and its intensity? The crash and her death?

11.The atmosphere of Florida, the wealthy, the Cubans, the Americans and their wanting to make money? The police?

12.Harry, his friendship with Jason, working on the boat? The encounter with Alex and his violence? A sense of betrayal by Jason?

13.The popularity of this kind of crime story? The characters? The intricacy of the plot?