Wild
Things (1998)
"I think I've done 'gritty' pretty well in my previous
work. But if people want to see 'gritty' they can walk
out their front doors. I wanted to make this film look
big and glossy." - John Macnaughton
When you're the Executive Producer of your own film,
you're allowed to show off your cock if you want. Just
ask Kevin Bacon.
Director John Macnaughton ("Henry, Portrait of a Serial
Killer," "Mad Dog and Glory") brings us an awesome soap
opera set in south Florida. Imagine if Aaron Spelling
produced "Twin Peaks" and you'd have a pretty good idea
of the film. The slick and cool film doesn't have as
much quirky oddball stuff as Lynch would put in, but
it does have it's moments. The best part of the film
is the soundtrack by George S. Clinton (not the P-Funk
guy) which rips-off Angelo Badalamenti at every turn.
It doesn't matter though. To someone as hungry for something
as close to "Twin Peaks" as he can get, this satisfies
for most of it's run time.
The film's plot, however, ultimately defeats Macnaughton
as he is force seemingly for time constraints to abandon
style in the last 30 minutes of the film and simply
get all the damn plot by scripter Stephen Peters crammed
in. That's what ultimately ruins "Wild Things."
The story concerns Sam Lombardo, played by Matt Dillon.
He's a high school guidance counselor who is accused
of rape by Neve Campbell (the "Scream" dynasty) and
Denise Richards ("Starship Troopers"). Lombardo also
has a past with Richards' mom (played by Theresa Russell).
The cops are represented by Bacon and Daphne Rubin-Vega.
Meanwhile, the lawyers in the case are performed by
Robert Wagner and, in a hilarious turn, Bill Murray.
The later steals every scene which he is in.
Things, of course, are never what they seem and the
plot takes so many twists it eventually confuses anyone
trying to watch it. It's so mushed up, in fact, that
Macnaughton puts some additional scenes in the end credits
to explain some of what we did not see.
It's too bad that the film ends up so poorly, even
with Bacon's protrusion in the shower scene. The first
half of the film is steamy sultry stuff with lots of
bisexual action. Although we just see the female to
female stuff, there is a small hint of it between Dillon
and his male underling Cory Pendergast, if one wants
to look. But all of this is subdued in the final reels
with plot subduing any sexuality whatsoever.
"Wild Things" could be much more wild. There is too
much plot and not enough sex. But it's still a worthy
film thanks to its first hour and a half or so. The
Lynchian sensibilities mixed ever so finely with the
Soap Opera schmaltz (thanks mainly to Russell and Wagner)
infused with Murray's humor and the stars cocks and
tits make for some fine viewing.
Note:
Also with Carrie Snodgress.
The soundtrack was supplemented with music by a member
of Morphine and Kay's Choice who were given a seperate
credit. Songs by both bands are also on the soundtrack
as well as Iggy Pop, Danny O'Keefe and others.
A scene where Dillon and Bacon shower together was
delete by Macnaughton as "gratuitous."
Filmed on location in Florida. The courtroom scene
was filmed in the facility where Manuel Noriega was
tried.
Review written in 1998
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