JADE

US, 1995, 95 minutes, Colour.
David Caruso, Linda Fiorentino, Chaz Palmentieri, Michael Biehn, Richard Crenna, Angie Everhart, Donna Murphy, Kevin Tighe.
Directed by William Friedkin.

Jade is a fairly conventional murder mystery. It was written by Joe Eszterhas, best known for Basic Instinct, Sliver, Showgirls, and is a variation on these films: the woman of mystery, Linda Fiorentino (is she a killer?), the obsessed policeman, David Caruso, a world of civic corruption. As directed by William Friedkin (French Connection), it simply does what it sets out to do: create an atmosphere, set a mystery and solve it. There were enough clues and I should have picked the killer but didn't.

A reasonably effective thriller.

1. Murder mystery, portrait of American society, politics, police investigations? Sexuality and violence? Social and political corruption?

2. The city, the opening and the long travelling through the various rooms of the mansion? Collector’s home? The art, ethnographical material? The tone? The other locations, the church, apartments, the holiday house at the sea? The musical score?

3. The title, jade objects, Jade is a name, the sexual identity, her behaviour, mystery woman? Her being seen by the men? By the prostitute witness? Trina and her character, in society, psychology, lectures…? Identified as Jade? Her inner life, sexuality and prostitution?

4. The introduction to David, as a police investigator, as a friend of Matt, their discussions about the law and jobs? His relationship with Trina, the previous involvement, her marrying Matt? His having to be detached? Going to the Governor, the photos, the information, his assistants and death threats? The Governor and his threats? Working with Bob and Petery? Bob and his antagonism? Petey and his age and experience? David finding the clue and keeping it, the discussions with his legal adviser, friendship, her character?

5. Matt and Trina, married, living comfortably, her choice for the marriage? The flight, going to give a lecture, the diagnosis, her explanation about impulses and their being separated from personality? Matt, his love, his mistresses? His going to the church with David, the icons?

6. The character of the Governor, his behaviour, his reactions? Jade and her clients? Patrice? The photos? Patrice being interrogated? Her death in the accident?

7. The victim, his place in society, his connections, art, ethnography, taking the photos, using them for blackmail?

8. The arrest of Trina, Bob and his antagonism towards her, wanting her guilty? Matt and his critique, defence of Trina? Her lies, the admission, Matt and his reaction?

9. Trina and her innocence, yet guilty and her deception, seductive? Her attempts at seductive behaviour for the David? The thugs and the attempt to kill her – Bob and the governor’s men? The Governor’s final disdainful words?

10. The truth, Matt admitting the truth, protected?

11. The affluent atmosphere – but yet the immorality, corruption and exploitation?