ONE NIGHT AT McCOOL’S

US, 2001, 93 minutes, Colour.
Liv Tyler, Matt Dillon, John Goodman, Paul Reiser, Richard Jenkins, Reba Mc
Intyre, Andrew Dice Clay.
Directed by Harald Zwart.

The audience is asked to accept an openly amoral stance towards the characters and the situations to enjoy this story. Three men tell their story, about hitman he has hired to kill Jewel the story of how he intervened in a robbery in the bar, accidentally shot Jewel's boyfriend and how she then set up house with him, always wanting more for her shopping-catalogue dream home. carl, Randy's lawyer cousin (Paul Reiser), has therapy sessions revealing how he is completely narcissistic while besotted with Jewel (and a touch of sado-masochistic fooling around). Detective Dehling (John Goodman) seeks out his priest friend, an irreverent moral eavesdropper who needs more than a touch of counselling himself. Jewel reminds him of his dead wife and he wants to marry her.

Who is the real Jewel? Whose version is right? Probably each of them. What the film does do is give each of the men a chance to do what they do best, Reiser his deadpan ego thing, Goodman his bluff and amiable thing, Dillon is lost innocent thing. There is a highly contrived climax with Jewel confronting all three. But the surprise of the film is the hit Man who spends most of the film listening to Randy during an oldies' bingo evening. With old clothes, a quiff hairpiece that defies belief, it is Michael Douglas doing an effective comic turn. The whole thing is oddball entertainment.

1. At black comedy? Satire? Men and women? Sexual attraction? Last? Consequences?

2. Mc Cool’s, the bar, the interiors, the customers, Randy as bartender, drinking, robberies?

3. The town, the hall for the bingo, the bar, Randy’s house, the streets, the therapist’s office, the Catholic institution? Realism? Musical score?

4. The different versions of Jewell, the three men’s perspectives, ‘One night at Mc Cool’s’? Her clothing, style of wearing her dress, hair? Alluring? Randy’s view, the damsel in distress, smitten, helping her, taking her home, his awkwardness, the glass of water and discussion, sex, the morning after, her explaining the situation? His talking about Utah, his arrival, the conflict, the threat of the gun, Jewell killing him? Randy and his response, the police? Quiet? Her staying with Randy, her lifestyle, wanting things? Carl’s view: attractive, seductive, watching the incident in the car park, not helping, imagining her, discussing it with the therapist, the phone call to Randy, thinking he was away, going to the house, the S and M get-up? The policeman’s view: victim, attraction, his dead wife, discussing it with Father Jimmy, the detail, the encounter with Jewell, sex, his going back to the house?

5. Burmeister and his listening to Randy’s story, coming to the house, looking in, the guns, Jewell coming out, attracted, offering her a house and lifestyle? The ironic, even cynical, ending?

6. The buildup to the climax, Randy and his desperation, telling the narrative to Burmeister, the humorous background of the bingo game, Randy and his awkwardness? Wanting Jewell dead? His coming back to the house, finding Carl, finding the policeman?

7. Carl, his wife and children, their being away, drinking at the bar, going to the therapist, his desperation, his explaining himself? The response of the therapist, her questions and insights? His being a successful lawyer, the death of his partner? The S and M, making a fool of himself, the shooting, leaping out the window?

8. The policeman, his work, the investigation, sympathy for Jewell, tracking down Randy? Discussion with Father Jimmy? Flowers, going to the house?

9. Utah’s brother turning up, wanting to avenge his brother’s death, the guns, The shooting? Jewell and her skills? The deaths? Burmeister and his observations, leaving it to the group?

10. Father Jimmy, at the institution, in the sacristy, wanting a drink, the altar wine, the chalice, throwing out the altar breads, his prurient curiosity, wanting details? The satire on a lascivious priest? Funny or offensive?

11. The film being a variation on dirty jokes? Sexism? But done with a touch of irony?