While the art world in 80s New York, I have to confess, is alien to me, I thought it was compellingly presented in a unique—albeit slightly warped—way as it pertains to the obsessive quest of an artist determined to capture death in image before he himself dies due to an undisclosed illness that involves intense stomach pain. The artist is Simon Hopper (Steve Inwood, an actor all in, portraying his artist as someone so devoted to capturing immortality at the point of death, he is willing to kill to get it on film), and he is in pursuit of a model willing to go all the way for him. Virginia Madsen, early in her career, is a stunning bimbo with her sights set on the absolute fame that a real reputed artist can provide. She doesn't quite realize that Simon will give her fame, but it will require sacrificing her life in order to achieve what he so desires. Simon has an assistant named Nishi (James Shigeta), mute and mostly obedient to his boss' ambitions but interferes when it seems the results are on the verge of ending quite grim. Nishi seems to almost allow Madsen's Christina to fall total victim, only to step in to stop Simon in the nick of time. The near-drowning is certainly a nice little bit of suspense, but the laser attack (laser beams striking portraits in Simon's studio, intended for Christina, as she rightfully freaks out) at the end, with Simon literally trying to push Christina into a dangerous laser beam that would destroy her, is quite a corker. I think many will have interest in "Perfect Order" due to Madsen's involvement. She is pure sex on screen, an absolute eyeful of hot. She smolders. She's difficult and whiny and demanding as models that look like her often are, but when Simon wants that girl to pose she strikes like a champ. I think you can tell she had a full career ahead of her. This puts forth an effort to establish that many artists who produce product that garners praise and reverence can be a bit melodramatic and showy (Simon uses a machine gun during a "presentation" at a major gallery opening). Models are divas seeking to get noticed and become iconic thanks to another's vision, eye, and passion; also this is emphasized through Madsen. So the episode seems to accomplish what it sets out to do. Death is indeed, after all, eventually captured as the artist so yearned, only not in the exact way he had imagined or intended.
Review of Perfect Order
