After Dark, My Sweet [Blu-ray]

Overview

Adapted from a novel by pulp writer Jim Thompson, After Dark, My Sweet evokes memories of the film noirs of yore. Jason Patric plays Collie, a short-fused ex-boxer who gets mixed up with alcoholic widow Fay (Rachel Ward) and burned-out former lawman Uncle Bud (Bruce Dern). These two lowlifes involve Collie in a kidnapping scheme. At first willing to go along with the plan, Collie tires of Fay's drunken mood swings and seeks out new companionship. Doctor George Dickinson proves all too eager to be friends with Collie -- more than friends, in fact. Driven back into Fay's arms, Collie agrees to aid in the kidnapping. But when the victim turns out to be diabetic, things go from bad to worse.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/12/2023
UPC:	0738329264048
Original Release:	1990
Rating:	R
Source:	Kl Studio Classics
Language:	English
Time:	1:54:00
Sales rank:	14,365

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jason Patric	Collie
Rachel Ward	Fay
Bruce Dern	Uncle Bud
George Dickerson	Doc Goldman
James Cotton	Charlie
Corey Carrier	Jack
Rocky Giordani	Bert
Jeanie Moore	Nanny
Tom Wagner	Counterman,Actor
Burke Byrnes	Cop
Vincent Joseph Mazzella Jr.	Flashback Fighter
Napoleon Walls	Boxing Referee
Michael G. Hagerty	Truck Driver
James E. Bowen Jr.	Second Driver
Maurice Jarre	Composer

Technical Credits

James Foley

Robert Redlin

James Foley	Director,Screenwriter
Cary Brokaw	Executive Producer
Ken Diaz	Special Effects
Ric Kidney	Producer
A.J. Nay	Stunts
Robert Redlin	Producer
David Rubin	Casting
Robert Redlin	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

After Dark, My Sweet, adapted from cult-favorite crime novelist Jim Thompson's 1955 novel, is a dark and involving yet flawed modern-day film noir. Director James Foley and cinematographer Mark Plummer successfully creates a mood of desperation, which partially explains the motivations of the characters, but are not helped by a weak screenplay by Robert Redlin that fails to fully flesh out the characters. Jason Patric gives a wonderfully smoldering performance as the psychotic Collie, and finds the core of sympathy in an otherwise unpleasant character. Ward, while lovely, lacks the allure and sexuality necessary to make her a memorable femme-fatale and fails to create any real sexual chemistry with Patric. Without this chemistry, her character remains a drunken loser rather than a true film noir seductress. Bruce Dern is adequate as the completely unappealing and repellant Bud, but the character fails to evoke any empathy that would allow the audience to understand or relate to him on any level. Despite these flaws, Patric's performance makes this moody, atmospheric film well worth watching.

All Movie Guide - Linda Rasmussen