The Underneath

Director: Steven Soderbergh Steven Soderbergh

Overview

Steven Soderbergh's film noir The Underneath, a remake of Robert Siodmak's Criss Cross, comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. Both picture and sound are good. Spanish and French subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include production notes, cast and filmmaker bios, film highlights, and a theatrical trailer. Anyone who discovered Soderbergh after his Oscar win for Traffic will be interested in this early, stylish effort.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/17/1998
UPC:	0025192044526
Original Release:	1995
Rating:	R
Source:	UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:40:00
Sales rank:	57,961

Special Features

Production notes; Cast & filmmakers' bios; Film highlights; Theatrical trailer; Web links

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Peter Gallagher	Michael Chambers
Alison Elliott	Rachel
William Fichtner	Tommy Dundee
Adam Trese	David Chambers
Joe Don Baker	Clay Hinkle
Paul Dooley	Ed Dutton
Elisabeth Shue	Susan
Anjanette Comer	Mrs. Chambers
Dennis Hill	Guard (Tom)
Harry Goaz	Guard (Casey)
Mark Feltch	Guard (George)
Jules Sharp	Hinkle's Assistant
Kenneth D. Harris	Mantrap Guard
Vincent Gaskins	Michael's Partner
Cliff Haby	Turret Operator
Tonie Perensky	Ember Waitress
Randall Brady	Ember Bartender
Richard Linklater	Ember Doorman
Helen Cates	Susan's Friend
Kevin Crutchfield	VIP Room Flunky
Brad Leland	Man Delivering Money
Rick Perkins	TV Delivery Man No. 1
Paul Wright	TV Delivery Man No. 2
David Jensen	Satellite Dish Installer
Jordy Hultberg	TV Sports Reporter
Steve Shearer	Detective
Fred Ellis	Detective's Partner
Joe Chrest	Mr. Rodman,Mr. Rodman
Wheel	Band No. 2
Shelley Duvall	Nurse
John Martin	Justice Of The Peace
Cliff Martinez	Composer

Technical Credits

Steven Soderbergh

Daniel Fuchs

Sam Lowry

Steven Soderbergh	Director,Screenwriter
Joshua Donen	Executive Producer
John Hardy	Producer
William Reid	Executive Producer
Bobby Sargent	Stunts
Lionel Wigram	Executive Producer
Ronnie Yeskel	Casting
Daniel Fuchs	Screenwriter
Sam Lowry	Screenwriter

Scene Index

Chapter List
0. Chapter List
0. Main Titles
0. The White Van: 2:11 PM/Meeting Susan On The Bus
0. At Home
0. Dinner With Mom, David, And Ed
0. The Ember
0. "Did You Get My Twinkie?" 3:08 P.M.
0. Rachel Called
0. Footsie In The Parking Lot
0. Lunch At The San Miguel With Rachel
0. Introductions At Perennial
0. Lunch In The Parking Lot With David
0. Rachel Rehearses
0. Back To Perennial: 3:46 P.M.
0. Mom And Ed's Wedding
0. In The Waiting Room
0. The Underpass
0. Where's Rachel?
0. Lunch With Ed And Mom
0. With Rachel At Whispering Pines
0. Michael And Susan At The Bank
0. The Ember: Bribing The Waitress
0. The Waiting Room: 4:59 P.M
0. Rachel Finally Calls
0. "30 Dimes On LSU"
0. Rachel Comes Over
0. Michael Proposes A "Job Job" To Tommy
0. The Waiting Room: 6:01 P.M.
0. Michael Lays Out The Plan
0. Leaving Perennial: 6:11 P.M.
0. Heist Instructions On The Phone
0. With Rachel The Night Before
0. To The Bank: 6:29 P.M.
0. The Heist
0. Visitors At The Hospital
0. The Nurse Comes In
0. The Waiting Man
0. "It's Time To Go"
0. At Whispering Pines
0. The Appeal Of Walking Away
0. At The Gas Station: End Titles

Menu

Main
   The TV And Satellite Dish Delivery
Bonus Materials
   Production Notes
   Cast & Filmmakers
      Peter Gallagher
      Alison Elliott
      William Fichtner
      Adam Trese
      Joe Don Baker
      Paul Dooley
      Shelley Duvall
      Elisabeth Shue
      Steven Soderbergh
   Theatrical Trailer
   Why Letterbox?
   "The Underneath" Framing Chart
   Bars and Tones Forever
   Swelltone
   Alignment Signals
   Universal Web Links
Languages
Play

Editorial Reviews

Awash in deceit, obsession, and opaque color schemes, Steven Soderbergh's loose adaptation of the 1948 noir classic Criss Cross ranks as one of the director's most ambitious projects, if not his most successful. Though the performers are stellar all around -- including a misanthropic Peter Gallagher, the always menacing William Fichtner, and a pre-Leaving Las Vegas Elisabeth Shue -- only the luminous newcomer Alison Elliot manages to generate any sort of audience sympathy. As the plot twists pile up, Soderbergh exhibits an impressive control of suspense, pacing, and tension, but the film remains curiously cold and distant. This is bank robbery as an escape from existential malaise; quite a different attitude from Soderbergh's loose, buoyant, and altogether superior take on crime just three years later, 1998's Out of Sight.

All Movie Guide - Michael Hastings