A Gun, a Car, a Blonde (1997)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Stefani Ames

Writers (WGA):

Tom Epperson (written by) &
Stefani Ames (written by)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Believe nothing. Trust no one.

Plot:

A wheelchair bound (Jim Metzler) paraplegic fantasizes about the new blonde (Andrea Thompson), who moves into the house across from him...

Plot Keywords:

Paraplegic | Wheelchair | Female Nudity | Sexual Fantasy | Wetting Pants

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Jim Metzler	...	Richard / Rick Stone
Victor Love	...	Bobby / The Black Chinaman
Kay Lenz	...	Peep / Madge
Norma Maldonado	...	Adele / Bunny
John Ritter	...	Duncan / The Bartender
Andrea Thompson	...	The Blonde / Jade Norfleet
Billy Bob Thornton	...	Syd / Monk
Paul Parducci	...	Bear / Petrovich
Paula Marshall	...	Deborah / Girl In Photograph
Vann Johnson	...	The Singer
Time Winters	...	Ed / Catalina Eddie

Runtime:

107 min | Spain:103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Germany:12 | Spain:T | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Manhattan Beach, California, USA

Company:

B.F.A. Cinema Incorporation

Quotes:

Jade: How can I hold anything against you when you hold me against you?

Soundtrack:

The Dead March

Good Talent Gone To Waste

The talents of Billy Bob Thornton, Kay Lenz, John Ritter and Andrea Thompson aren't enough to salvage this crass and unimaginative drivel about Richard (Jim Metzler), a man with spinal cancer who discovers he can escape the pain for awhile through the use of `Objectification therapy.' By submerging himself into what is essentially a deep daydream, he is able to transport himself into an imaginary, black-and-white film noir world in which he is a Private Eye named Rick Stone. Apparently, director Stefani Ames had a limited shooting schedule on this film; too many scenes play like they were done in a single take with no rehearsal, as if the actors came away from the table after the initial cold reading with the cameras already rolling. Though obviously attempting to evoke the B-movies of the forties, the dialogue is laughably bad, especially in the black-and-white segments. Metzler's character, a cancer victim no less, is inexplicably unsympathetic, and Kay Lenz will not be getting a career boost from her turn as Richard's shrewish sister, `Peep.' Billy Bob Thornton and John Ritter will always have `Sling Blade,' and at least Andrea Thompson was lucky enough to escape this sort of fare for a spot on TV's `NYPD Blue.' The unfortunates rounding out the supporting cast include Victor Love, Norma Maldonado and Paula Marshall. The best thing that can be said about this film is that it makes one appreciate a really good movie. Where's Bogart or Mitchum when you need them? I rate this one 1/10.