Review of Gotham

Gotham (1988 TV Movie)
10/10
An Underrated Modern Day Film Noir
23 December 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Tommy Lee Jones is in rare form here. Though he retains his trademark deadpan delivery and familiar Texan drawl, the comical one-liners are replaced by astute ones in a much darker atmosphere.

Eddie Mallard (Jones) is a broke, late on his rent New York private detective whose luck turns around when he is hired by eccentric millionaire Charlie Rand (Colin Bruce) to track down and confront his wife, Rachel Carlyle (Virginia Madsen). Rand wants Rachel to leave him alone, stop following him. When Eddie asks Charlie why not start with divorce, he gets a blunt answer: Rachel has been dead for over a decade.

After an initial frosty confrontation in a New York lounge, Rachel seeks out Eddie, who is falling in love with this woman who may or may not be a ghost. Rachel charms Eddie into falling in love with her as Eddie learns more about Rachel Carlyle.

Eddie cannot decide if Rachel is a flesh and blood woman or if she is in fact the ghost of a dead New York socialite who only married Charlie Rand for his money. As Eddie is pulled further and further into Rachel's mysterious world, he realizes that either way, his life as he knows it could come to a bad end. The dead can't lie - can they?

Excellent film, a dark, chilling tribute to 1940's film noir. Jones and Madsen have fantastic chemistry and the supporting cast (including Frederick Forrest as a priest) give outstanding performances.

For those looking for it to rent, Netflix does carry it.
8 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed