FAITHFUL
A film review by Clarissa Oon
Copyright 1996 The Flying Inkpot
Directed by: Paul Mazursky Written by: Chazz Palminteri Cast: Cher (Margaret), Chazz Palminteri (Tony), Ryan O'Neal (Jack)
Produced by: Miramax International Length: 100 mins Rating: *** out of ***** Theatres: Shaw
'TILL DEATH DO US PART' COMEDY MISSES ITS MARK
There's something extremely unsatisfying about a movie that keeps its fingers on your pulse, but fails to push the right buttons. And FAITHFUL is a one of those movies that has its moments, but never quite takes off as a whole.
Actor Chazz Palminteri's comic thriller is an inspired tale of a wife who discovers that her husband has hired a hitman to dispose of her on their twentieth wedding anniversary. From its tantaliser of an opening, FAITHFUL throws up witty one-liners, sexual tension between repressed housewife Margaret and broodingly neurotic gunman Tony, as well as a potentially compelling debate on whether it's possible to remain faithful to the same person all your life.
For example, Margaret asks Tony, in the desperate curiosity of one about to die, whether he's ever slept with a whore. He replies, haughtily, "I only sleep with whores."
The key to Palminteri's script is the dialogue between Margaret and Tony, which deftly juggles that fine line between irreverent and seriousness. And director Paul Mazursky (ENEMIES, A LOVE STORY) gives the dialogue considerable attention, producing some classy moments. Cher turns in an excellent performance as Margaret, bringing to it inimitable comic timing and an unexpected poignance. Palminteri reprises his familiar hitman role, though with less panache than as the memorable Cheech in BULLETS OVER BROADWAY. And both play up the sexual tension to the hilt.
But the movie tries to be a bit too clever. The numerous flashbacks and cuts to Margaret's husband Jack are distracting and often ineffectual; Ryan O'Neal does nothing for the role of Jack with his wooden, humourless mug, and the flashbacks only serve to draw us away from the immediacy of the Margaret-Tony interplay. Worse of the lot are the cheesy slow-mo shots of Jack's mistress sashaying about.
The biggest culprit of the 'trying-too-hard' syndrome is the movie's attempt to moralize, it's insistence on Making A Point. Like the wide-angled shots of Jack and Margaret's opulent mansion; read: money can't buy happiness. Or the constant rehashing of the 'faithfulness' theme--why can't men be faithful, why women shouldn't bother to be faithful--which gets to be about as annoying as a fly buzzing about your head.
Like the intense, tough-talking Tony who can't bring himself to pull a trigger on any woman, FAITHFUL has a lot behind it, but manages to shoot itself in the foot. Which is why, despite its potential, despite actors the calibre of Cher and Palminteri, FAITHFUL won't win any critical acclaim. A pity.
Clarissa Oon has no qualms about being faithful--to her dog.
The Flying Inkpot Rating System: * Wait for the TV2 broadcast. ** A little creaky, but still better than staying at home with Gotcha! *** Pretty good, bring a friend. **** Amazing, potent stuff. ***** Perfection. See it twice.
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