The Underneath (1995)

A recovering gambling addict attempts to reconcile with his family and friends but finds trouble and temptation when caught between feelings for his ex-wife and her dangerous hoodlum boyfriend.

Director:

Steven Soderbergh

Writers:

Don Tracy (novel), Steven Soderbergh (screenplay) (as Sam Lowry)

Stars:

Peter Gallagher, Elisabeth Shue, Alison Elliott

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Gallagher	...	Michael Chambers
Alison Elliott	...	Rachel
William Fichtner	...	Tommy Dundee
Adam Trese	...	David Chambers
Joe Don Baker	...	Clay Hinkle
Paul Dooley	...	Ed Dutton
Shelley Duvall	...	Nurse
Elisabeth Shue	...	Susan Crenshaw
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

Storyline

Michael Chambers returns home to celebrate his mother's marriage. Michael had been ousted from his home town due to his gambling indiscretions and had left his wife to deal with the mess he created. He now must reassimilate back into the town, renew his relationships with his family and friends (and enemies) and, most of all, seek out his ex-wife to woo her again. In the process, he obtains a job working with his mother's new husband as an armored car driver. He almost seems the perfect prodigal son as he finds his niche back in the community and his way back into his ex's heart. His troubles surmount when he and his wife are caught in the act by her hoodlum boyfriend/fiancé. To get out of this predicament, Michael must concoct a plan to heist of a payroll being carried by his armored car company.

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Plot Keywords:

armored car | lottery | female to male foot in crotch | robbery | pool hall | 

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Taglines:

For passion, betrayal and murder... there's still no place like home.

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Genres:

Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violence, language and sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 April 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Underneath

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$536,023

Company Credits

Production Co:

Populist Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Steven Soderbergh: [company named "Perennial"]

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Quotes

[first lines]
Susan Crenshaw: Are you getting off at Austin?

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Connections

References Wheel of Fortune (1983)

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Soundtracks

The Green Head
Composed and performed by Cliff Martinez
(p) Varèse Sarabande, 1995

User Reviews

when I think about trying with you again, I have no idea if it's a moment of strength, or a moment of weakness.

Not really noir, as it is in color, so we can call it neo noir and be done with that.

Michael (Peter Gallagher), the prodigal son, returns home for his mom's wedding after being exiled for some past trouble. The flashbacks throughout the movie show us what happened, but it really doesn't matter.

What matters is the fact that he takes up again with his old flame, Rachel (Alison Elliott), who is now married to a local hood (William Fichtner), a fact she neglected to tell him.

To get out of trouble with the hood, he agrees to do an armored car robbery. His own brother (Adam Trese) suspects him.

One of director Steven Soderbergh's early works, it will not blow you away, but it will entertain you.

I suspect the ending will leave you furious.