Jade
Stars: David Caruso, Linda Fiorentino, Chazz Palminteri, Angie Everhart, Michael Biehn
Director: William Friedkin
1995
It’s hard not to compare Jade to Basic Instinct, which came out a couple of years before. Similar sordid sexymurderer plot with “did she or didn’t she” ambiguity, sumptuous San Francisco locations, and a fairly clueless cop stumbling through the investigation like Inspector Clouseau with a boner. These comparisons are not surprising though, seeing both were written by smokin’ Joe Eszterhas (though apparently Friedkin did an extensive rewrite here, much to Joe’s chagrin). With Uncle Billy at the helm, there is no shortage of directorial flair on show. A stylish modern noir vibe pervades throughout, and every location is spectacular and/or opulent. Of course, being a Friedkin film there are a couple of rather spectacular car chases, including one which turns convention on its head by taking place at about five miles an hour through a street parade. Promotional consideration by the Ford motor company. Hot babe quotient is upped by the casting of redheaded amazon Angie Everhart in a small role as random eyecandy, a role she delivers with aplomb right up until she gets pulped in the film’s most violent scene. A word of warning though – those tuning in to see Linda Fiorentino in a state of undress will be sorely disappointed, she remains stubbornly clothed throughout, even during the film’s raunchiest bits of banging. She certainly did not throw herself into the role with Sharon Stone-like abandon, more’s the pity. A flawed film, but an easy, sleazy watch.
6/10
