Henrick Vartanian

This neo-noir film is a remake of the 1946 film starring Lana Turner and John Garfield. This new, 1981 version starring Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lang looks like a film that started with good intentions and then went sideways. Jessica Lange's sexually pent-up, careful, married woman is quite refreshing and unique under the actress's expert care and command of the screen but also confusing because of her character's on-again, off-again energy throughout the film. The two leading stars have great chemistry which makes watching the film worthwhile, and lots of sexual energy which was unexpected but in the end, a sudden and somewhat strange ending that flattens the entire experience of watching it including the unexplained title of the film. Watch it for the acting and the gorgeous cinematography, that's it.