Published via Ecency

(source: tmdb.org)

“Less is more” is phrase that is almost completely banished from mainstream Hollywood. In the past, however, there were some quite respected Hollywood film makers who, from time to time, indulged in minimalistic approach. One of them is Robert Benton, whose 1987 crime comedy Nadine has conspicuously short running time.

The plot is set in 1954 Austin, Texas and the protagonist, played by Kim Basinger, is Nadine Hightower, beautician who is just about to divorce her husband Vernon (played by Jeff Bridges), owner of failing bar. Nadine is pregnant and, before starting new chapter of her life, wants to settle more than one issue. She had posed for some risqué photographs made by Raymond Escobar (played by Jerry Stiller), sleazy photographer claiming to be good friend with Hugh Heffner and with enough connections to turn Nadine into Playboy model. When she comes to Escobar’s office to demand those photographs back, she inadvertently witnesses Escobar’s murder. Using the opportunity to search the office, she takes what she thinks are the said photos only to later discover that they are actually official plans for new highway development – the documents that could make real estate speculator quite rich. Vernon, whom Nadine asked for help, sees this as an opportunity to solve his financial problems, but he soon has to deal with Buford Pope (played by Rip Torn), ruthless real estate developer who sends goons to retrieve the plans from him and Nadine. While trying to stay alive, two spouses begin to realise that they actually still love each other.

Robert Benton obviously tried to make a screwball comedy, very much like those made in Classic Hollywood, only with setting switched to his native Texas. Such films demand good cast and Benton had it. Kim Basinger, actress who was one of the sex symbols of her time (owing that to the fact that, unlike her character, she actually managed to pose for Playboy) wanted to prove that she could be a comedienne. She mostly succeeds in that, while Jeff Bridges, one of the leading Hollywood actors at the time tries to use as much of his natural charm and talents as possible. Both actors try to make their performances somewhat interesting by using the Texas twang. On paper, that was supposed to work, but Nadine ends as strangely underwhelming effort. The reason, at first, looks to be production, which, despite decent budget, looks cheap, mainly because most of the scenes take place indoors or on some rather unappealing locations like derelict houses or junk yards. The less obvious but more important flaw of the film is lack of humour, at least in quantities necessary for Nadine to work as a comedy. Apart from beginning and the end that deal with Nadine’s “art studies”, the film plays its plot quite straight. Some of the characters are walking cliches, and it doesn’t help when they are played by talented actors, like Torn as main villain or Glenne Headley in the role of Vernon’s bimbo girlfriend. The ending, like in many bad comedies, tries to compensate that with action, which is quite violent for this sort of film and includes people being blown away by explosive. Country and western soundtrack, which at times sounds too anachronistic for 1950s, also add to impression of Nadine being failure. Despite occasionally good acting, Nadine proves that less sometimes can be less.

RATING: 4/10 (+)