gogoschka-1 Gripping, violent mobster tale and a very sexy love story. What a stunning debut for the Wachowskis this film was (and I can't for the life of me understand why this film hasn't been seen by a huge audience). Amazing camera, fantastic acting and so tight there's not a single dull moment in it. Edge-of-your-seat stuff. 9 stars out of 10In case you're interested in more underrated masterpieces, here's some of my favorites:imdb.com/list/ls070242495

Lee Eisenberg The film noir is a genre widely associated with the 1940s and 1950s. Occasional movies since then have dabbled in the genre (such as Oliver Stone's "U Turn"), but "Bound" is probably the most interesting. Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly play lesbians who scheme to obtain a bunch of money from Tilly's character's mafia husband (Joe Pantoliano). But things don't quite go as planned, leading to some of the tensest moments ever put on screen.The Wachowski sisters (brothers at the time, as they hadn't yet transitioned) say that the movie is about "the boxes people make of their lives", that it is not only gay people who "live in closets". Most of the movie takes place in closed spaces, while Tilly's character is trapped in her marriage.Whatever the case, it's an impressive piece of work. The Wachowskis continued their fine output with "The Matrix" and "Cloud Atlas" (while producing "V for Vendetta"). In the meantime, "Bound" constituted part of the shift in cinema's depictions of LGBT people. I recommend it.

NateWatchesCoolMovies Before the Wachowskis rocketed into the stratosphere of cinema with their big budget world building and brilliant, lofty ideas, they made Bound, a down n' dirty, kinky little slice of mob pulp that's as much fun as it is sexy, potent and dangerous. Gina Gershon plays Corky, a hard nosed opportunist with a keen eye for making money and a fondness for beautiful women. Jennifer Tilly is Violet, the bored wife of weaselly gangster Ceasar (a lively Joe Pantoliano), who has just come into a whole wacky of shady cash via his employer Mickey, played by one of the great character actors of his generation, John P. Ryan, who is sadly no longer with us. Ceasar has been given the money to launder, but Violet has other plans that involve double crossing him and making off with it. When she happens to wander into the gay bar that Corky frequents, sparks fly. And I really mean it, for soon enough the two are in bed together for one of the single most hot and heavy sex scenes you will ever see in a film. Seriously, you'll want to open some windows for this baby. As soon as Corky gets wind of the money, the plot simmers as everyone makes a discreet mad dash for riches and no one is sure who is screwing over who. Gershon is tough, sexy as hell and leaves a faint trace of vulnerability in her excellent performance. Tilly is crafty and secretive, deliberately making people underestimate her until it's too late. This was Ryan's last film role, and he makes the most of it as a salty old thug with a dash of class, a touch of kindness and the unnerving tendency to snap at the drop of a hat. Christopher Meloni is hilariously pathetic as his second in command who irritates everyone around him, especially Ceasar, who has a scary little temper of his own. One senses real danger for our two female leads, because despite the somewhat playful and often satirical tone towards tell gangsters, the Wachowskis have still fashioned them to be formidable and cruel, a wise tonal choice that grounds the viewer and distills genuine suspense. The characters are all brilliantly written and realized, so if you read this review thinking this was a trashy little lowbrow affair, it's not. It's It's a real world tale that just so happens to take place in a lurid part of movie town, and contains one scorcher of a lesbian love affair that is as affecting in dialogue and body language as it is with sex. A special film, and not one to be missed.e

Leofwine_draca BOUND is a Tarantino-style thriller that comes to us courtesy of the Wachowski siblings. These are the two brothers (who have now transitioned to sisters) who wowed audiences with THE MATRIX but have been disappointing ever since. I quite liked this as an early step in their career, although it is quite forgettable and quite clearly a B-movie.I did get a chuckle when I read that Bogart and Eastwood were acting inspirations for the main characters, played by a game Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly. Both are acceptable as the couple embarking on a torrid lesbian affair and getting involved with some violent gangsters, but to link this to classic, golden age cinema in any way, shape, or form is a joke. Gershon has done better work elsewhere while Tilly is too much of a mouth breather (similar to Renee Zellweger) to take seriously.Instead, as I said, the influence is clearly Tarantino, so expect lots of shouty moments, quick fire dialogue, and expletives. I thought the use of the single location (a grubby apartment) was handled very well, and there are some nice twists and turns as the story progresses. Joe Pantoliano (MEMENTO) gives probably the best performance as the out-of-his-head boyfriend, and it's nice to see John P. Ryan (IT'S ALIVE) on screen again, although he looks very old and isn't in it much; this was his last acting role.