JENNIFER 8
US, 1992, 124 minutes, Colour.
Andy Garcia, Lance Henrickson, Uma Thurman, Graham Beckle, Kathy Baker, Kevin Conway, John Malkovich, Lenny Von Dohlen, Perry Lang.
Directed by Bruce Robinson.
Jennifer 8 is a detective thriller and the search for a serial killer. It has overtones of other thrillers, especially those involving blind women like Wait Until Dark with Audrey Hepburn and See No Evil with Mia Farrow.
The film was written by Bruce Robinson, English writer of such films as The Killing Fields who made a name for himself with the cult film Withnail and I. He also made How To Get Ahead In Advertising. However, his career stalled after the commercial failure of Jennifer Eight.
The film is a star vehicle for Andy Garcia who gives an energetic performance as an obsessed detective. Lance Henrickson often plays villains but plays his sympathetic police friend with Kathy Baker as his wife. The film was also an early star vehicle for Uma Thurman who had appeared in Johnny Dangerously and Dangerous Liaisons. John Malkovich also has a very telling cameo role.
The film is set in north-west California, snowy regions and at Christmas time. The film creates an atmosphere, shows the work of a police precinct and the clashes of personalities, especially when a detective comes from the south. Garcia portrays a man who has lost his wife, is obsessed with his case, becomes very attached to the young blind woman and wants to protect her.
The film is a good example of this kind of detective melodrama.
1.Police thriller? Detective thriller? Search for a serial killer? The blind woman in peril? The blend of these ingredients?
2.North-west California, the town of Eureka? The location photography, winter? The homes, the institute for the blind, the countryside? The police precincts? Authentic atmosphere? The musical score?
3.The title, the victims, the attitude of the killer, the mannequin in the police station?
4.The introduction to John Berlin, driving, meeting with Fred and Marge, the long friendship, Fred as his mentor? The welcome to the north? His skills? The background of his wife, her departure, his drinking, the case and the links with the north? Andy Garcia creating a complex character?
5.The garbage dump, the corpse, the suicide, the boy and the knife, the discovery of the hand? John and his presence, linking the case, the marks on the hand and the suggestion of use of Braille? His waiting in the car, looking at the signs, hearing the sounds for helping the blind across the street? Making connections?
6.Fred, his friendship and support, his scepticism? The chief, his interest, painting, discussions with John, controlling him? The members of the police precinct, Taylor and his antagonism, his knowledge about the case? Other members of the force, expecting promotion and wary of John?
7.John and his investigation, the growing obsession, the need for evidence, pleading his cause with the chief, going into Taylor’s files? The confrontation with Taylor and the attack on him?
8.Going to the institution, the head of the institution and the discussions, his wariness about the case? Complaining to the police?
9.Helena, her music, teaching music, her blindness and the background of the accident and the effect on her and her parents? Her experience at the institute? Her trying to remember the details of her friend, the man picking her up, audio memories, smell? As a witness? John and his meeting her, the discussions, taking her out for the meal? Taking her to see Marge and Fred, on the boat? Fred’s description of him as fat and his age? The bond between Helena and John?
10.The attack, the report? The glimpse of the janitor? Taylor and his giving the information to the papers?
11.Christmas, the celebration, Marge dressing Helena up, the makeup? At the party? John and his going to check the phone calls? Helena and her being bewildered, ignored, weeping? John and his support, love for her?
12.John persuading Fred to go to the institute with him, seeing the light, the gale, the door shutting, the lift, the radio contact, John and his concussion, coming down the steps, the shooting, the gun, Fred’s death? The police having the recording of the incident?
13.Helena and Marge, their grief at Fred’s death? Marge and avenging?
14.John being interrogated by Special Agent St Anne, the intensity, the plausibility of St Anne’s theory, his confrontation with John?
15.Helena, the attack, the need for protection, with Marge? Taylor taking her away?
16.John, the clues, the search of the caravan, finding the addresses, the apartment, the photos, identifying Taylor?
17.Taylor and the arrest, the interrogation by St Anne, by the chief, John being bailed by Marge? The theory about Taylor and his motivations?
18.Taylor, character, the family, his motivation, killing the women, resentment about the blindness in the family, treating the women as dolls, finally threatening Helena in the institute?
19.The irony of Marge in Helena’s room, the chase through the corridors, Marge shooting Taylor?
20.The final lyrical touch and the happy ending?
