Bound

This steamy and clever little thriller, made by The Matrix’ Wachowski Brothers back in 1996, puts a twist on the classic film noir in so far as the anti-heroes are not only female (one more femme, the other more fatal), but are no holds barred lesbians.

Indeed, and steamy sex scenes and 90’s technology aside, much in Bound pays homage to the classic film noir and pulp fiction genre: Jennifer Tilly’s hairstyle and clothes, the steel and chrome décor, the double (here triple) framing acts, and truly vicious Mafia mobsters.

Corky (Gina Gershon), a sassy and somewhat rough round the edges ex-con who just got released from a five-year jail sentence for ‘re-distributing of wealth’, moves into an apartment to take up honest work as a painter and plumber. As it so happens, she soon makes the acquaintance of sexy next-door neighbour Violet (Jennifer Tilly). When the two exchange looks in the hallway, we know that the two will get it off in more ways then one! Sure enough, in between bed sheets and drinks, Violet tells Corky of her plans to start a new life as well, away from her boyfriend of five years, Caesar (Joe Pantoliano), a money launderer for the Mafia. The chance arrives sooner as they think: Violet overhears the torture of a guy called Shelly by Caesar and the Mafia. Shelly ‘liberated’ almost 2 million bucks from the ‘family business’, and Violet, only too aware that Caesar will not only find but keep the money in their apartment, hatches a seemingly fool proof plan with Corky to re-steal the money and do a runner.
Their plan involves a set-up between Mafia boss Gino Marzonne (Richard C. Sarafian), his violent son Johnnie (Christopher Meloni) and of course Caesar… plan being that the three accuse one another of having stolen the 2 million while Corky breaks into the apartment prior, takes the money and hides it in her apartment. But with the deliberate drop of a bottle of Scotch, things start to go wrong instead of right for the two feisty dames, and soon they find themselves entangled in a scenario much more violent then they initially anticipated…

Gershon and Tilly are perfectly cast as the lesbian couple that need each other in order to pull off the theft, while at the same time, one is as crafty and corrupt as the other - thus the mutual undercurrent of distrust never quite fades. At the other end of the spectrum, Joe Pantoliano is superb as Caesar, a loose cannon who has no problems to slide between almost pathetic megalomania and manic outbursts of violence.

This dual-format Blu-ray and DVD release will make its uncut UK debut in a newly restored transfer with a host of brand-new extra features:

• High definition digital transfer
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation
• Optional 5.1 Surround and 2.0 Stereo audio (with DTS-HD Master Audio and Uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray)
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Audio Commentary with Writer/Directors the Wachowskis, Stars Jennifer Tilly, Gina Gershon, and Joe Pantoliano, Editor Zach Staenberg, and Consultant Susie Bright
• Femme Fatales – Interviews with Stars Gina Gershon & Jennifer Tilly
• Hail Ceasar! – An Interview with Actor Joe Pantoliano
• Here’s Johnny! – An Interview with Actor Christopher Meloni
• Modern Noir: The Sights & Sounds of Bound – Interviews with Director of Photography Bill Pope, Editor Zach Staenberg, and Composer Don Davis
• Vintage EPK Featurettes (US & International Versions)
• Theatrical Trailers
• TV Spots
• Still Gallery Images
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sam Smith
• Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by James Oliver