Synopsis
Bound is a neo-noir crime thriller that incorporates vintage elements while simultaneously evolving the genre. This was the first attempt by the Wachowskis, later known for their monumental work with The Matrix trilogy, in 1996. Bound includes robbery and character betrayal, alongside elements of forbidden romance, Jaguar’s and lesbian relationships, and murder; subverting the entire societal order. One key detail that sets Bound apart is its woman leads who are criminals and romantically involved, breaking societal and genre expectations.
In Chicago, Corky, the ex-convict and fulltime plumber, is an ex-prisoner on parole. She takes up a job as an apartment remodeler and comes across Violet, the beautiful and witty partner of Caesar – a small-time crime syndicate engaged in mafia funded activities. There is an instantaneous emotional connection between Corky and Violet that sparks an intense, secretive, and dangerous affair.
As Violet and Corky’s relationship develops, she helps Corky with her finances, especially in regard to Caesar’s laundering operations which involve large sums of mob money, including their latest fresh $2 million dollars arriving at their apartment. In a bold move, the two women decide to set up Caesar for the crime while they steal the cash for their own escape. This leads to a meticulously planned yet exceedingly stressful and highly violent sequence of deception and mind games, spirals out of control as Caesar’s unraveling antics exacerbate the preexisting chaos.
This is a more enclosed and nuanced approach to the plot, which has a highly intimate feel to it, as most action takes place within the substantially sized two-bedroom apartment. Every step, sentence and even an eyes twitch is meticulously choreographed. As trust is a prominent feature, it collapses in on itself as Corky’s and Violet’s constricted character outlines unravel- a vicious cycle perpetuated by an unworldly amount of falsehoods they are forced to spew. Only the film’s brutal but effective resolution is where strategy, enduring willpower, and loyalty—survival’s foremost ingredients—are required.
Cast & Characters
Gina Gershon as Corky
Corky is brought to life by Gershon with raw magnetism and a gritty authenticity. Once embroiled in a life of crime, she now attempts to live a cleaner life. She is sharp, observant, and physically capable. A tomboy to no end, Corky is also a skilled mechanic but is emotionally vulnerable and becomes increasingly fond of Violet. She is the film’s moral compass, even as she engages in borderline criminal activities.
Jennifer Tilly as Violet
Tilly delivers a career-defining performance as Violet, Robbie’s girlfriend, who suffers from an abusive relationship with her gangster boyfriend. Oftentimes underestimated for her soft-spoken, overly feminine voice, Violete is portrayed as resourceful, clever, and assertive. Corky’s ally strengthens her will to bring justice to her life—or in this case, a vendetta.
Joe Pantoliano as Caesar
The role of Caesar, the paranoid and volatile mobster who shows his true colors throughout the film, is excellently portrayed by Pantoliano. In the film, Caesar suffers an explosive mental breakdown and Pantoliano captures this brilliantly. His descent into suspicion and madness is one of the film’s most captivating arcs.
John P. Ryan as Mickey Malnato and Christopher Meloni as Johnnie Marzzone
These characters add secondary developments to the story while being mob figures. Their role serves the purpose of enforcing the mob’s violent and corrupt nature which lurks just outside the disheveled space Caesar inhabits.
Direction and Cinematography
The directorial debut from Lana and Lilly Wachowski is nothing short of spectacular. They demonstrate right from the start their proficiency in telling stories visually, developing characters, and weaving themes into their films. In unlike Bound, which draws inspiration from renowned noir works like Double Indemnity and The Postman Always Rings Twice, uses familiar genre conventions such as shadows, voiceovers, and betrayals but adds a stylish twist and progressive ideologies to modernize it.
The film was shot by Bill Pope and his stylish, crisp, and precise approach towards cinematography lends well to the rigid and almost suffocating vibe of the setting. The camera angles capture the tension of the space and emphasize the cramped feeling of the apartment.. Throughout the film, the camera’s focus on doors, hands, and faces enhance the sense of suspicion and dramatic complexity. Tight framer and the minimalistic set design adds to the feeling of the film being a ready-to-explode pressure cooker.
Themes and Symbolism
The film Bound delves into multilayered themes such as trust, betrayal, betrayal, autonomy, and reinvention. At its heart, it is a love story between two women who take charge of their lives by escaping violent men and a corrupt system. Rather than dipping into melodrama, the film focuses on romance built on mutual respect, desire, and shared risk.
Identity, which pertains to how an individual portrays oneself and how they truly are, is one of the central themes of Bound. Violet, who is regarded as docile and passive, is actually quite a formidable presence. Corky comes across as tough and masculine, but actually possesses a great deal of empathy and emotional softness. Their queerness is central but not tokenized; it is essential to the narrative, offering a vision of power and intimacy rarely depicted in mainstream 1990s cinema.
The film also explores the place of women in the world of noir. In classic films, the femme fatale character is portrayed as having men do her bidding, but in Bound, Violet and Corky use this for their own benefit. Together, they outsmart the men and walk away with the money and their independence. This perspective on femininity coupled with the power dynamic transforms Bound into one of the most significant feminist thrillers of its era.
Reception and Legacy
After premiering to rave reviews, Bound quickly gained notoriety as a pioneering work for its on-screen representation of LGBTQ+ characters. Critics seemed to agree the film was expertly crafted with taut writing, a bold direction, stunning leads, and even more stunning chemistry। While the box office numbers were modest at best, its status as a cult classic has secured Bound’s influence over the years.
Bound is famously known for its unapologetic depiction of a lesbian relationship, which had all but disappeared from Hollywood at the time. Unlike many films around the same period, which either fetishized or excluded queer characters, Bound unapologetically centers its two main leads and their love, brilliance, and strength, thereby propelling the narrative.
Looking back, Bound was the perfect introduction to the Wachoskis’ later work, which would go on to explore various forms of transformation, resistance, identity, and self. Even though it predates the Matrix by three years, many stylistic and philosophical foundations set in Bound can already be seen.
Conclusion
Bound is a confidence oozing, subversive, and distinct noir film that tells the suspenseful tale of love and crimeful capers while challenging notions of power, identity, and patriarchal assumptions. It is one of the first heist films featuring two women and is bound to turn heads. The overwhelming world poses as a challenge, but these two women refuse to give in and use their wits to navigate their new world.
Along with meticulous direction of the ‘90s finest thrillers, BOUND earned the title of queer-cinema masterpiece. Unforgettable performances are intertwined within razor-sharp dialogue redefining the standards and flirtatiously dancing with their goods.
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