SNAKE EYES (aka DANGEROUS GAME)

US, 1993, 104 minutes, Colour.
Harvey Keitel, Madonna, James Russo.
Directed by Abel Ferrara.

Snake Eyes is a film about Hollywood and film-making, but it is also a focus on violence and sexuality on the screen, the relationship between life and art. It was written by Nicholas St John, long-time collaborator with director, Abel Ferrara (Fear City, China Girl, King of New York, Bad Lieutenant).

The film is confronting, Harvey Keitel as the director being interviewed, addressing the audience, directing his stars and goading them into the performance that he wanted. It also shows his private life and its collapse. Madonna is the female star, quite persuasive in her role, and James Russo (Extremities) is very good as the self-absorbed violent, drug-taking actor.

The film takes the theme of American lifestyle, permissiveness, the dependence on the permissive style but also the possibilities of conversion and what that does to each of the characters and their interaction. The film appeals to the emotions and gut reactions but also offers a great deal for reflection.

1. The work of Abel Ferrara, the focus on confrontation, violence, sexuality, gut reaction? A film about moviemaking, about reality and fantasy?

2. The New York and Los Angeles settings, the contrast, the studios, the sets, the interiors, the sunny affluence of Los Angeles? The score?

3. The title, the focus, the gamble?

4. The film within the film, its subject, treatment, The Mother of Mirrors? The parallels of the film with the life of the characters, the issues?

5. The structure of the film: the interviews, the indication of rehearsals, the indications of filming, the true life story?

6. Harvey Keitel as Eddie, his reputation and skills, being interviewed, his style, statement of intentions, insights? Aims in making the movie? The conducting of the rehearsals, taking the cast through their lines, their actions? The continual goading of the actors? The filming, relying on their personal agendas - even to abuse? The contrast with his life at home, his relationship with Maddy, his pride and love in his son? His infidelities, Maddy's arrival after Sarah's leaving, his covering his tracks? Maddy and Eddie in LA, the car ride, sexual encounter and his impotence, the arguments and the silence? His response to the death of her father? His return to New York, his confessing the truth, the confrontation between them, Maddy bringing the son into it and wanting Eddie to explain everything to his son? Turning him out? His return to Los Angeles?
7. Eddie with Sarah, talking to her, the meal out and the jokes, the sexual relationship, supporting her, insulting her in the performance? Drawing out of her a strong performance?

8. With Frank, the phone call in the night, talking to him, persuading him, his friendship and standing up for him when the producers questioned him, continually demanding more of him, Frank stopping the action, Eddie sending him off set, the drugs, the drink? Wanting the desperation from Frank?

9. Sarah and Frank off set, their backgrounds in television and in film, their relationship, sexual relationship? The growing clashes? The sexual scene and Frank's gross behaviour, Sarah's response? The reputations - and their on-screen personas?

10. The title of the film within the film: The Mother of Mirrors? American lifestyle (and judgments about it - especially from Eddie's interviews)? The permissive lifestyle, drugs, promiscuity, alcohol? Frank and his dependence on it? Sarah and her conversion - becoming a martyr, listening to Frank, suffering, his video playback of her promiscuity? His continued need, his rage, his prayers against God, anger and ultimately violence? The possibility of each of these characters killing each other?

11. The people in the background to the film-making, producers, people on set, friends of the cast?

12. The build-up to the finale, the continued filming of Mother of Mirrors? The cumulative effect of the clash between the two? The visit of Eddie to New York, Maddy's reaction, his returning to Los Angeles - and lying on the bathroom floor - his future?

13. The ending with the shooting of the wife - what goaded the husband, the wife as victim? The melodramatic ending to the film?

14. For what audience was the film made, the comments on Middle American life in the '90s, the presentation and critique of permissiveness? The significance of religion, church, prayer and devotion, belief in God or not? The moral perspective of the film, comment on sexuality and violence? The relationship between moviemaking and real life?