Mortal Thoughts (1991)

Two detectives interrogated a hairdresser on two homicides she may or may not have been involved in.

Director:

Alan Rudolph

Writers:

William Reilly, Claude Kerven

Stars:

Demi Moore, Glenne Headly, Bruce Willis

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Demi Moore	...	Cynthia Kellogg
Glenne Headly	...	Joyce Urbanski
Bruce Willis	...	James Urbanski
John Pankow	...	Arthur Kellogg
Harvey Keitel	...	Det. John Woods
Billie Neal	...	Det. Linda Nealon
Frank Vincent	...	Dominic, Joyce's Father
Karen Shallo	...	Gloria, James' Mother
Crystal Field	...	Jeanette, Joyce's Mother
Marianne Leone	...	Aunt Rita (as Maryanne Leone)
Marc Baron	...	Usher (as Marc Tantillo)
Doris McCarthy	...	Pat - Cynthia's Mother
Christopher Scotellaro	...	Joey, James' Brother
Ron J. Amodea	...	Band Leader
Leonid Merzon	...	Yuri

Storyline

The hairdresser, wife and mother Cynthia Kellogg is in police department being interrogated by the experienced detective John Woods and his partner, Detective Linda Nealon. Through flashbacks, she reveals how her best friend and colleague Joyce Urbanski married the scum and nasty James Urbanski; how hard Joyce's life with James was; and why Joyce became a criminal. The smart detective finds some contradictions in her statement and presses Cynthia, trying to disclose the truth of two murders.

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Plot Keywords:

neo noir | detective | friend | best friend | murder | 

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Taglines:

Murder is a secret that should never be shared.

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Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language, momentary violence, and for some drug content

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 April 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pensamientos mortales

Filming Locations:

Bayonne, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$19,018,321

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation,New Visions Pictures,Polar Entertainment Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The James Urbanski role was only a tiny part in the film until Bruce Willis agreed to do the film.

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Goofs

Camera crew reflected in the van when Joey drives away from Cynthia.

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Quotes

James: You take a pencil, a piece of paper, S-U-G-E-R, this is what we need.

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Connections

Remade as Anything That Moves (1992)

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Soundtracks

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
Written by Billy Joel (uncredited)
Performed by Billy Joel

User Reviews

Fifty ways to leave your lover......in pieces

Talk about your off-shoot movies for major actors, like these two. Demi Moore is superb in this tale of urban violence against women and family and drug use. Bruce plays a character that I haven't seen him tackle before. He does it in an outstanding manner. Glenne Headley as Demi's close friend and co-worker drops the accent and does new Jersey as it should be done. I really didn't like this story, I was very uncomfortable, but I realize, looking back that it was right on the money. The subject needs to be dissected. Moreover it needs to be taken seriously and not swept under the carpet, as it has in many cases. Stats' read out to be 1-3 women are being abused, or have been in an abusive relationship. Demi shows her mettle, she also shows what it's like to come to the end of a violent union.

Glenne, her friend was supportive and a little shaky at times. I can't figure who wouldn't be, but she was also strength for her friend. This was a dark and intense brief, look into what some are living through. I am glad that this was made, it shows the grit that it takes to just make it through the day with someone of that lifestyle. Demi is the type that is really believable in this, there aren't a lot of other actresses that have the ability to reach the emotionally burned-out look and feel that Moore does in this. Willis, was and I can't say enough about his performance as he was just a 'natural' in 'MORTAL'.

When you can be close and taste it even just a little it is hard to try and blame someone for using the extreme method to exit a relationship just that way.

Although, they have to take responsibility in it, when it's them that started the life together in the first place. There are 'signs' that any person should be aware of before abandoning them self to a relationship commitment. Seek counseling first, or talk with close friends around you and don't ever simply base your longing on an emotional state of being...for sure you'll be sorry in the end. And you will in deed be looking for the fifty ways to leave your lover.

Recommended...learn from this one too.(****)